Sukhavati en Shambhalacalli, Tepoztlan, Mexico (bilingual - english below)

(English below)

Queridos amigos de la sangha,

El viernes 17 de Agosto, en Shambhalacalli Tepoztlan, Mexico, nos unimos a la energia de los Sukhavatis para Acharya Simon Luna que estaban sucediendo en Boulder, en Santiago de Chile y en otros centros alrededor del mundo. Nos avisaron a ultima hora y muchos de la sangha estaban fuera de Mexico, algunos en Halifax para el festival Kalapa, otros en el Centro Shambhala de las montanas en Colorado o de vacaciones. Pero nos dimos cuenta de que ya era el 3er dia de su muerte y era importante que la sangha Mexicana le hiciera un tributo a nuestro hermano Vajra, guerrero Shambhala y querido amigo: Simon Luna.

Tuvimos el honor de que Simon viajara a Mexico recientemente en Mayo y recibirmos sus ensenanzas por primera vez en Mexico (favor de ver 2 fotos incluidas). 10 de nosotros teniamos una fuerte conexion con el pues asistimos al Seminario en Chile en 2006. Simon regreso a la tierra de sus ancestros despues de una ausencia de 30 anos. El menciono muchas veces durante su visita, que era personalmente importante para el su retorno a Mexico. El parecia estar conmovido y contento por la presencia de los dralas en la tierra de sus ancestros sanguineos. Y tambien para nosotros como sangha de Shambala, el recibir sus ensenanzas de Drala y Mahamudra. - su primera y unica ocasion en que impartio ensenanzas de Mahamudra - en espanol por primera vez.

Hubieron algunos obstaculos para organizar rapidamente esta ceremonia de Sukhavati... cuando la noche llego, descubrimos que no habia electricidad en el salon de meditacion, algunas reparaciones se estaban haciendo porque nadie esperaba que el salon se utilizara esa noche. Entonces trajimos muchas velas y comenzamos la ceremonia a luz de vela. Un rato despues llego el electrico y resolvio el problema y de pronto tuvimos luz aunque las velas quedaron encendidas todo el tiempo.

Los testimonios e historias compartidas a cerca de Simon fueron abundantes y conmovedoras, todos en nuestro pequeno grupo hablo, revelando diferentes aspectos de su enorme corazon y vasta mente siempre abierta al momento. En ese instante nos sentimos completos..... tantas de sus facetas estaban presentes en el salon, entonces leimos la liturgia del Sukhavati. Su fotografia tomo tiempo en ser consumida por el fuego..... y una vez que las ultimas cenizas cayeron en el gran plato de barro Mexicano, hubo una sensacion de alivio en el ambiente...... unos minutos mas tarde el cielo comenzo a tronar y tuvimos una de las tormentas mas salvajes de la epoca de lluvias: un sonoro despliegue de las fuerzas naturales. Tan solo nos quedamos sentados en nuestros "bardos" por un rato, sin poder hablar con la persona a nuestro lado. Brindamos con vino Chileno y compartimos deliciosas botanas para desearle un buen viaje a Simon..... terminamos con un tremendo KI KI SO SO y nos fuimos sintiendonos bendecidos y con nuestros corazones tiernos y rotos.

Con carino a todos,

Geo Legorreta y Gary Hubiak

Shambhalacalli, Tepoztlan , Mexico.

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Dear Sangha friends,

On Friday August the 17th, at Shambhalacalli Tepoztlan, Mexico, we joined with the energy of Sukhavatis for Acharya Simon Luna that were happening in Boulder , Santiago, Chile and other centers around the world. It happened on short notice and many of our sangha were out of town, some in Halifax for the Kalapa Festival, others in SMC in Colorado or away on holidays. But we suddenly realized that it was the 3rd day after his death and it was important that the Mexican Sangha pay tribute to our Vajra brother, Shambhala warrior and dear friend: Simon Luna.

We had had the honor of having Simon recently come to Mexico this last May, and we received teachings from him for the first time in Mexico (please see 2 photos attached from the Mahamudra Weekend). 10 of us had a strong previous connection with him from having attended Seminary in Chile in 2006. Simon came back to the land of his ancestors after an absense of 30 years. He mentioned many times during his visit that it was personally important for him to have returned to Mexico. He seemed to be particularly moved and delighted by the presence of the dralas in the land of his blood ancestors. It was also very important to us as Shambhala sangha to receive his teachings on Drala and Mahamudra - his 1st and only teachings on Mahamudra - and in spanish for the 1st time.

There were some obstacles to quickly pulling together this Sukhavati ceremony.... as it was getting dark, we discovered there was no electricity in the shrine room, repairs were being done because nobody was expecting the shrine room to be used. So we brought many candles in and we started with a candle light ceremony. Some time later the electritian came and fixed the problem and we suddenly had light, although the candles stayed on all the time.

The testimonies and stories shared about Simon were abundant and moving, everyone in our small group spoke, revealing many different aspects of his enormous warm heart and vast mind, always open to the moment. At that point we felt complete........ so many of his facets were present in the room. Then we did the Sukhavati liturgy. His photograph took time to be consumed by the fire , turned sideways on the stick and he burned horizontal like a funeral pyre ..... and once the last ashes fell on the big clay mexican plate there was a strong feeling of relief in the atmosphere...... and within a few minutes the sky started to rumble and we experienced one of the wildest storms of the rainy season: a tremendously loud show of the force of nature. We just sat in our own "bardos" for a while, virtually unable to speak to the person next to us. We toasted with Chilean wine, feasted with some snacks for Simon's safe journey.... we ended with a tremendous KI KI SO SO and left feeling blessed and with tender broken hearts.

With love for you all,

Gary Hubiak and Geo Legorreta

Shambalacalli, Tepoztlan, Mexico.