Tribute to Simon Luna

On the Anniversary of Simon's Passing

2008-08-10T13:09:00.013-03:00

Our first year without Simon has been full of wonderful memories, discovery, sadness, smiles and hope. At some point we found the courage to get through unexpectedly dark days. Sarah, Mary Louise and I are grateful to have connected with many of Simon's dear friends this year. And we appreciate many donations in Simon's memory to the Santiago Shambhala Center.

Please click on the photo below to see a slideshow from the ceremony in Chile. In May, Dennis McMahon (Simon's lifelong friend from San Antonio) and I rendezvoused in Colorado to join Sarah to spread Simon's ashes. Judith Simmer-Brown led the three of us on a beautiful day's journey at Shambhala Mountain Center. The weather was glorious. Judith was our energetic spirit, enlightening us throughout the day. The sadness of the day was further lifted in a few comical mishaps and we are certain that Simon was bringing levity to the situation.

This week Sarah and I will spend time with Simon's very special community at the Santiago, Chile Shambhala Center. We will spend a very special day with his and our dear friends spreading his ashes in Cuncumen, the beautiful place where he had last year's Seminary and other Shambhala programs.

Simon is still with us. Some of you have shared your "Simon sightings" in a glimpse, a look, the moon, the wind, or a dream. We miss our brother and father very much and have enjoyed hearing of your experiences. I do not dream of Simon as often as I would like, but in my recent dreams he is in his next world and very happy. He looks like he did in our world, but I recognize him in many different ways.

Simon was a wonderful writer. In the coming year we would like to assemble a collection of Simon's writings, with a goal toward sharing them by the end of 2009 We look forward to continuing his enormous legacy.

We need your help! If you have a writing of Simon's (in any language) that you are comfortable sharing with us, we would be enormously grateful. Any format you wish to provide is fine -- copies of letters, e-mails, articles and poetry. Please do not assume we already have it. My contact information is below. I look forward to hearing from you. Much love to you all.

Juanita C. Luna
juanita.luna@mindspring.com
and/or

Mary Louise Luna
mlluna@comcast.net

Simon in New Zealand

2007-12-09T18:34:00.000-04:00

In January of this year, Simon directed a dathun in New Zealand, on the outskirts of a small town halfway between Auckland and Wellington. I was there as a meditation instructor, and I cherish the time we spent together. Simon was always "on," in a relaxed, warm, humorous and insightful way, ever the first one to see the basic goodness in all of us.

Hanging from Simon's neck is a pounamu, or greenstone, the sacred stone of the Maori of New Zealand. It was a gift from the dathun, and blessed by a Maori elder. Simon was very touched by this gesture, and spoke of feeling a kinship with the local indigenous people. Simon felt a strong connection to New Zealand, and helped in the search for a land centre. His principal means of assessing a site seemed to be sitting - literally sitting on the ground, by himself, for as long as it took. While we were exploring together he asked me to take a photo of this valley, without explaining why... I was sure I would see Simon again, and then would ask him about this valley.

Now, when I look at the picture, I do see Simon - round and grounded, warm and sunny, open and inviting.

His last words to me were, "Keep well, amigo."

We miss you amigo, -Brian Guns

Clarke Warren in Nepal

2007-10-16T10:56:00.000-03:00

Hola Veronica and Sangha of Chile and Latin America,

I was in Vera Cruz State, Mexico, in Xalapa, when Simon died. I told the Mexican Sangha hosting me, not part of Shambhala Intl., about him and his dedication to working for Buddhadharma in Latin America. Amidst the shock, I was nonetheless touched that I was in Latin America when he went, and that my farewell wishes to him might transmit in Spanish!

Then a few days later, I visited Patzquaro, and Casa Werma. The property manager there had just met Simon a month before, when he visited Casa Werma, and conveyed fond memories and respect for Simon, from that brief meeting. She had been having difficulty with the more institutional and doctrinaire Buddhists who visited there. She said she hesitatingly informed Simon that she was not Buddhist, and Simon had let out a deep breath and exclaimed "Thank God!" That moment endeared her to Simon. She had been touched by the genuineness and warmth of his presence, She said that after even that very brief visit, she felt sad that Simon was leaving, and indeed Simon had turned to her upon leaving and said, "I feel very sad, and I don't know exactly why!"

I raised Lungta there in the garden at Casa Werma, where the Dorje Dradul had received one of the main Shambhala terma, and wished Absolute Ashe to Simon.

I am in Kathmandu right now. The other day I revisited the road where Simon and I took our first walk a day after we both arrived in Nepal for the first time in 1994. We worked together that semester, with the Naropa Nepal Program. Over time, of course, Simon returned to North America, to three-year retreat, then eventually moved to Chile, and I remained here in Asia. Each of our hearts seemed to have fused with places which captured our karma, with auspicious connections and Dharma.

That day we took the first walk in Kathmandu is still clear in my mind and emotions. Half way to Pashupati, the national Hindu shrine of Nepal and the site of the funeral (cremation) ghats, a sudden downpour pinned us down under a shelter built next to the road. Fittingly, it was a "dharmasala", a shelter built specifically for pilgrims. I remember just waiting out the rain, surrounded by a few venerable old Nepali gentlemen, hunched down on their knees and smoking, noone saying anything, just staring at the strong sheets of water pounding down all around us and thundering on the shelter roof. The world stopped, time disappeared. It was a freeze shot of Nepal, Nature, and an ancient setting. It was Simon's and my first bonding with Nepal.

I also remember the Naropa Nepal Program Halloween party in the Bir Restaurant, Simon and I both dressed as ghouls. We got pretty drunk that night, danced alot, got feisty, and swore off hard drinks for the forseeable future the next day! There were three Rinpoches at that party, young thoroughly-trained tulkus who had more or less dropped out of their formal religious roles for a while. They were dressed in jeans, t-shirts, smoking cigarettes, two of them drinking beer, obviously checking the American girls out. When I told them we were dresssed as "rolangs", Tibetan zombies, they were not at all amused. In Tibetan culture, dressing like a zombi can invoke the real thing, which many Tibetans very much believe in.

That only encouraged Simon and I to act more ghoulish!

We had some great and challenging ups and downs that semester, along with Stacy and Steve Tibbits, the latter our tutor and main reference point from past NU programs in Nepal. With Steve's unwavering guidance and sheer enthusiasm for Nepal, it was our baptism into the third world. It felt more like being introduced to the "first world", the primordial world.

A couple of years ago, I ran into Simon at the SMC Stupa Event. It was a warm and hearty reunion, if brief. We marveled about the different directions our lives had taken us after the time in Nepal.

This last summer, I again ran into Simon, for a brief moment at SMC. As he was engaged in a conversation, we did not have the time to chat. We were both about to jump into cars and depart. I remember jabbing him playfully in the gut, saying hi, then leaving. It was the last time I saw him.

At Pashupati, near where Simon and I waited out the rain torrent under the small roadside rest shelter, everyday the smoke from burning corpses rises above the sacred Bagmati River, into which the remains of the cremation are swept later. Simon is likewise now gone, swept away,and as I saw a furl of smoke from a cremation the other day, I thought of him, and how soon we will all take back to the elements. Simon was a sincere and warm person, with human complications and swings of karma like all of us. I will always remember those simple, unspoken moments under the shelter in Kathmandu, a haitis before all our further adventures together and then on our own. and remember it as a superb and simple gap of genuineness, friendship, and pure perception.

Adios Simon. Via con Vidyadhara!

Hola to you in Chile and Latin America, may your paths continue with genuine hearts of sadness.

With warm wishes,

Offering for Simon Luna's Tribute

2007-09-11T20:04:00.001-03:00

Written by Citlali Pena
Tepoztlan, Morelos
Mexico

Setting Luna, rising Sun
To Simon Luna, Vajra Joyful Sun

The last image I have of Simon is of laughter, of the easy openness with which he greeted surprise.

I'm away, in a little town near lake Patzcuaro, for a permaculture course, a big adventure for me, a sacrifice for my husband Andres, who has advanced ALS, a terminal motor neuron disease. Now paralyzed, and unable to speak,we function as one organism, or at least try to. This trip is his gift to me, and though I know he is well cared for I fear he will die while I'm gone. I even made him promise me he wouldnt.

Sitting in a circle in the garden, after introductions, another student comes to me, asks If I belong to the Shambhala community. Deborah is the administrator of Casa Werma, a property in Patzcuaro where Rimpoche Chogyam Trungpa wrote a sacred text. She met Simon Luna, a couple months ago, when during his trip to Mexico, he stayed at the house. I haven't gotten over the surprise of the connection, images of big gentle Simon fluttering about my hearts eye, when she says "Simon died this morning, he had a heart attack, arriving at the Santiago de Chile airport".

Siimon Luna was an Acharya, one of few master teachers of Shambhala, Andres and I met him in Tepoztlan during the weekend where he taught us of Drala: the aspects of reality that awaken our perception to the power and magic of things as they are. He later visited us at our home -talk of teachers dharma and death under warm spring rain- and recommended the book we are reading now: "Peaceful death, joyfull rebirth" by Tulku Thondup.

Startled in the damp morning grass, dew beads glistening on deep purple lillies, the long mane of a willow swaying gently. I breathe the inescapable mystery of death, the unceirtanty of its arrival. When people meet Andres, and see sharpness of bone, the pure shine of mindfullness in his eyes there is an unspoken assumption that he will die first.It hasn't always been the case.

Invited to spend my last night at casa Werma. I arrive weighted down by despair over the day's intense mental work on future scenarios combining degrees of energy descent and global warming- all involving suffering and death. My spinning mind comes to a halt in front of a mirror flanked by a huge laughing skeleton woman in oversized hat blooming with flowers and elegant long dress. La Catrina is a symbol of mexican's playfull defiance of death. Somehow, I feel comforted by her presence.

I meditate by the fire, in the room where Simon stayed, whispering gratitude to him, for his teachings, reciting prayers. Walking through the garden the next morning I am flooded by the notion that without death there is no dance, and the delicate feathery green carpet of leaves I trample regretfully with dew wet boots, will rot into rich humus, supporting life.

A big black and yellow butterfly lands close to me on a cone of orange trumpets unfurling its long tongue into the sweetness. I see Simon in the black velvet of this Drala, there is no death but transformation. The dark Mother, nurturing life, has taken him to another level of existence where bodhisatvas are hope for future consciousness.

I am told Simon spent his last night watching shooting stars in the Colorado sky. Some people feel he already knew. But when I close my eyes I remember our farewell. He had started up the steet when I yelled "Luna , caramba, come back here immediately!". He turned around briskly, startled. It took me a couple seconds to realize our dog, Luna, shares with Simon the name of the moon. As I explained his shocked expression gently tumbled into surprised laughter and he walked away with that squinty whole face smile of his shining like the sun on the wet cobblestone street.

Simon Luna

2007-08-26T13:27:00.001-03:00

I am deeply saddened by the news of the passing of Simon Luna. The first time I met him was at my very first meditation retreat on July 28, 2007 at the Shambhala Mountain Center here in northern Colorado. It was a brief meeting, but we shared many thoughts about Alternative Medicine and Chile. He encouraged me to visit Chile. He truely touched my heart and soul during that time we spent talking. I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to spend time with him. I shall remember him always.

Debbie Arndt

Specialist Meehan

2007-08-25T21:06:00.001-03:00

Alas, another good man gone. I miss him more now with his passing. My procrastination has forever forstalled our sharing life stories.

Viz The train that leaves tomorrow is well upon its way!

Simon and I become fast friends some 35 years ago. I was in the military. Simon came to Washington on a road trip, (it may have been his first) with his lifetime friend Dennis McMahon, my pal and recent army emeritus. We three began to share a friendship of unique character and singular depth.

Simon, was not then a Buddhist, a disconsulate Catholic, nascent atheist, maybe, but a seeker nonetheless. He was a determined seeker. Simon was a purposeful man already at 25.

We were pool players, kindred spirits on felt. We played Zen pool, laughed a great deal and knew in our bones that in 1971 "the world was young."

Simon, as I said, was a determined sort. Not the most talented player, he brought a fierce concentration to the game, an indominatability. I was good, Dennis was "the natural" (blond shock of hair to boot) and Simon was a living etude. Practice was Simon 's edge. That long cut shot that even the best players are 8 to 5 dogs to make, Simon would hit 100 times, then again 100. That will, that singleness of purpose made Simon always the tough competitor.

The little understood consequence of Zen pool is a tendency to wax philosophical, to even pretend wisdom. We were each of quick and apt intelligence, our discussions vigourous, sometimes contentious. And who in deed was the most formidable?

Oft times. Simon and I crossed verbal swords in an exaggerated style, just having rhetorical sport. In company only we three would know these ripostes were mere canards.

I believe that shortly after this time Simon began his real spiritual journey.

I began a parapatetic career, and a family. Dennis went on to become a world class pool player and eventually the mathematics professor he was born to become.

Simon, evidently had found a vessel sufficiently formed into which he was able to pour his life.

Buddihism had become Simons, "Way". I know naught of Simons journey, Therevada, Mahayana, lesser vehicle, greater vehicle, or pedestrian? I never really had the opportunity to share his vision. This said, Simon, as he did at 25, brought that determination to lifes vicissitudes through the years. Simons honorific, archayana bespeakes the respect and admiration of his fellows. Ksatryia, twice born, mexican Simon Luna is my Bodhisattva.

Sat, Chit Ananda Simple really!

Adieu Old Friend

Mike Meehan

St. Louis

una foto muy especial

2007-08-24T23:07:00.001-03:00

--
Cosechamos lo que sembramos
Aprendemos lo que acogemos
Respetamos lo que valoramos

Rosario Guzman Del Rio

Chile

Dear Simon of our heart!

2007-08-23T18:43:00.001-03:00

It is so sad that you are gone, we need you so much! We need you all the time but now you left this realm. We love you, dear Friend, and we will always love you. In this way you are not gone. You are alive in our hearts.

Dear All, thank you for you contribution to the tribute to Simon. It is so fantastic to read it. It is such a relief. If anybody has something more to write about, please do it, do not hesitate. You know, just do it. It is a good thing to do. It brings joy to some people. At least it will be a great joy for me to read about Simon again.

For the first time I saw him in SMC, RMSC at that time, when he was attaining one of those Very Important Meetings with Rinpoche. Then you just see those guys passing unless you know them personally and then they might stop for a minute to say hello. I really met Simon in London where he was teaching Drala level. That was a real magic. I was translating this program in Polish for my girlfriend. Our flight back to Warsaw was scheduled too early so we were about to miss the last talk. At that time I could not say that we were good friends with Simon but I had the feeling that it would be good manners to say good bye to the teacher. We did not announce ourselves and at the time we had to hit the road I knocked at the door of the teachers room. We thought if he would be there that would be great, if not we would not bother him. But he was there like waiting for us, sitting in his chair completely present. What a pity he said that you have to go. So if you are not going to be here for the last talk I'll tell you what this is going to be about: at this point we started to cry and we were crying till the end of our meeting… I don't know why. Later on one of our friends and teachers, Tomek Pietrzykowski, had the idea that people in Poland who are ready should go to the SY/VY Seminary in Chile. I thought that it was crazy idea but it was a good chance for me to help those who were helping me before and I went to staff the seminary as the translator with the arrogant idea "that this is their seminary, since I did mine in 1999". By now it is clear for me how brilliant this idea was. Also Simon's first talk flipped my whole image about what was going to happen: maybe for the first time I realized what the seminary was about. I will be grateful to Simon, to Tomek and all staff members and the participants of this seminary in Cuncumen till the end of my life. Don't ask me why if you were not there with all of us, if you did not join this fiesta. It is too difficult to explain. If you would like a hint have some Carmenere wine and listen to some good music like Omara Portuondo, e.g. El hombre que me ame, spend a whole month dancing, jump in the swimming pool at 2 a.m. I'm not going to make it any ethnical here. On the other hand I guess it is sooooo precious to meet the local drala of Latin America to understand the gift Simon had for us. I say "local" just to track it to begin with. In essence it is universal, because it is joy and love or love and joy, whatever you like. For me it was somehow more present there. How does it sound for you, friends? You know, all those things were there already but maybe just for me and few other people Simon evoked this, he gave a name to it or he just sent us his smile when we were being… let's say … eccentric about the whole thing. Anyway we could relax.

I think that the most important thing I have to say is that Simon understood in the best possible way, in a very encouraging way that we really all have the basic goodness or the Buddha nature. He did not just assume that. It was a simple fact for him and I guess we were trying to live up to it – is it correct English? With Simon we had the feeling that the basic goodness had not to be sent from Lhasa, Halifax or SMC. He was just going to celebrate it with us. Simon had no trace of any postcolonial mentality like telling us something we could not possibly know . He did not try even to proclaim anything. His gentle presence made us discover the basic goodness exactly there where it always was. This is a real Shambhala for me and Simon made it possible. So even if I'm European and I heard about it in London, Paris, DCL, I really experienced it fully not sooner then in Cuncumen with all my Vajra brothers and sisters who were attaining this program. What more can I say… Our house is open to all his friends. We believe that meeting each other is a good way to celebrate that we've managed to meet him in our live and then he'll be with us.

Rinpoche! Thank you very much for such an excellent Acharya! Walter! Thank you for Chronicleproject.com! Simon! Thank you for Simon!

Roman & Malgosia, Warsaw, Poland

Roczny1@yahoo.com

A reminder from afar - reformatted from a letter to a friend

2007-08-23T15:49:00.001-03:00

Once we have met the guru and the true teachings, the most important thing to keep in mind is forward vision.

Outwardly, this is remembering that we and all sentient beings have Buddha nature, and also to begin and end each day remembering the Three Jewels.

That is, remembering we are on the path.

Inwardly, forward vision is to bravely, and gently open to whatever arises. When difficulties arise, we can lean into the fire. It is the guru's heat.

Secretly, each moment we can remember the pointing out transmission, that all our castles of conceptual mind can dissolve in an instant.

There is just that, guru's face.

When we feel lost and far away, we cry from afar, and melt into yearning, relax into our own goodness.

Acharya Simon Luna

March 30, 1998

My friend

2007-08-22T15:38:00.000-03:00

Simon was my friend of many years and I will miss him dearly. Although we lived in the same neighborhood while we were growing up, and although I had seen him at various times in grocery stores etc., I only actually met Simon several years later when we were both college age. We met in, of all places, a pool hall. Simon had become enamored of the game during his first year of college at University of Notre Dame. When he came home after that first year, Simon bought a full size tournament caliber pool table and put it in the garage of his parents' house. He practiced pool like a man possessed (Simon never did anything half-way), and within one year he had gone from novice to one of the very best pool players in San Antonio. This is no hyperbole---he was that good.

I remember fondly nights spent in that garage, shooting pool and listening to Loggins and Messina on the radio. Some of these sessions would last a full day or more. I recall one night when we turned out all the lights and lit but one small candle for light. We placed the candle about ten feet from the table, and by its faint light we attempted to pocket an extremely difficult shot on the (black) eight ball. In that very darkened room, I think we imagined that eight ball more than we actually saw it. This was vintage Simon --- always testing his limits.

Simon and I remained close friends all during my college days. After a brief 2 year stint in the Army, I reconnected with Simon in 1971. By this time he had begun to be involved in his spiritual journey. The fires that had powered his pool playing prowess had been redirected toward his studies of Buddhism. I remember him speaking to me of Gurdjieff (not sure of the spelling) whom he had read about in Ouspensky's In Search of the Miraculous. We had some talks about spiritual matters and I remember attending a meditation session with him. But this was still very early in his journey. We still had some pool to play (though not as much as before). And we also had some traveling to do. In the Summer of 1971, Simon and I took a trip to visit a friend of ours in San Francisco. Upon leaving San Francisco, we drove to Washington D.C. to visit my old Army roommate.

A few memories of that trip remain vivid to me to this very day. Somewhere in the Dakotas or Wyoming, Simon suddenly pulled the car over to the side of the road. I asked Simon what was wrong. He pointed back a few hundred yards to where a young calf had poked its head through the barbed wire fence to feed on the grass on the other side. The calf had become entangled in the wire, unable to extricate itself from it. Simon calmly walked back to it and spent several minutes working the barbed wire until he had freed the calf from its misery. This simple act of kindness was at the core of Simon's being.

At an earlier point in our journey, Simon's car had broken down. The transmission was shot. It took us hours to get a tow into the nearest town, Yarrington, Nevada. The man who gave us a tow was a local farmer or rancher. He was a very nice man and as we talked, he told us about the area and how there had been a drought in that already driest of places. We asked how he could put up with such conditions. I remember Simon nodding sagely at his reply that "it's just part of life." This acceptance of all things with equanimity was another hallmark of this great friend of mine.

When we finally got to Yarrington, we realized that we were going to be stuck there for a few days while the car was being repaired. Faced with this delay in our plans, I remember Simon saying "I wish we could just poke a hole in time and then we would come out the other side exactly where we wanted to be." I have thought about this statement many times in the last few days.

Simon and I eventually made it to Washington D.C., and spent several months there visiting with my old army roommate. It will surprise no one to learn that the two of them became very close friends. That roommate of mine, Mike Meehan of St. Louis, Mo., was also very saddened by the news of Simon's death. Though time and distance and circumstance have conspired to keep the three of us apart for the majority of our adult lives, we all remained close friends who were always in each others hearts.

I have one other poignant memory to share. My girlfriend at the time and I spent one New Year's Eve with Simon and Lynn. When it came time to announce if we had a New Years resolution, most of us had rather predictable and mundane resolutions. Mine was doubtless to quit smoking. Another resolved to lose weight, etc. To this day I clearly remember Simon's resolution --- "To jump as high as I can as often as I can." Wow.

In the last three decades I had seen Simon only a few times. On those occasions when he returned to his home town of San Antonio, he would always look me up, and we would spend at least one evening catching up on what the other was doing, reminiscing about old times and, yes, enjoying our favorite beverages while playing a little pool. I remember those times with great fondness.

I have written this recollection of some of my time with Simon so that those of you who knew him from a different vantage point could see another side of him. However, it is clear that it is actually the same side. Simon's goodness and compassion showed through in everything he ever did. He was quite simply the finest human being I have ever known I am honored to have known him. He was my friend.

Dennis McMahon

Dear Simon

2007-08-21T20:14:00.001-03:00

We are very sad here in Petropolis (city in the mountains close Rio de Janeiro). Simon had been here two times for weekends retreats. He was friend, sweet, sensitive... An excelent master. Very familiar, very close, accessible. Simon is in my mind, in my heart.

I had been with him too, at Kadhro Ling ( Chagdud Rinpoche Gonpa south of Brazil), in retreat with Dzongsar Rinpoche.

Clear light for him.

Thank you, dear Simon. See you soon back in this dream world.

Miguel Ferreira

Petropolis - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

Simon Luna

2007-08-21T18:01:00.001-03:00

The clear eyes and radiating smile of interest are gone; As the sun shines, warming my yard, The inner warmth remains. jeff leroux

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

2007-08-20T20:23:00.001-03:00

(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.

* * *

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.

The most tender, funny and playful being I ever met

2007-08-20T18:05:00.001-03:00

Simon was my teacher and my very close friend.
I learnt a lot from him but, more than learning from his teachings (he was the greatest teacher), I learnt from HIM, from his behaviour, from his way of being always open, always loving, always compassionate.
He could go from teaching a class to wetting his feet with the hose's water to trying to save the ants that were always trying to get into his honey jar. Pooh's honey jar, as he was a big, beary man, the most tender, funny and playful being I ever met.
Here, in Chile, everybody has been doing Tonglen for him, to accompany him in his trip, taking turns in helping and in dealing with our own sadness regar1ding his loss. We have lost the greatest man and the greatest teacher. I, personally, feel like an orphan.
A few days before coming back to Chile, he sent me a ver strange mail: he talked about how things happen when they have to happen, especially things that are important for us, about crossing thresholds, about changes he had undergone during this trip...subtle changes. I wonder if he knew something. I wonder if we will all end up learning about impermanence through his unexpected and painful death.

I loved him
I love him.
He is an inspiration for my life, always, every single day.
May he have a good transit and always be surrounded by light. He certainly deserves it.
Goodbye, dear friend

Andrea Maturana

2007-08-20T13:26:00.001-03:00

Mister Moon

Full moon of compassion

Red moon of laughter

Blue moon of broken heart

Full moon of mahamudra

Red moon of desire

Blue moon of space

White-light moon

Clear of moon

Soft of moon

Strong of moon

Crazy moon

Great devotion moon

Great

devotion

moon

Love moon

Shine, moon, shine, moon, shine

Fred Jaben, Denver

Tribute to Simon

2007-08-20T12:56:00.001-03:00

Simon was one of the biggest hearted, kindest and most generous people I know. I will miss him. I had thought that one day we would put the idea of a 4 Karmas Chakrasamvara Fire Puja into reality. May his great generosity and devotion speed his awakening. Hellen Newland

Since death is certain and the time of death in unknown, what is the best thing to do.
Pema Chodron, Getting Unstuck

2007-08-20T08:47:00.000-03:00

The tributes now pouring in for Simon remind me of how, when I first began to meet some of the closest students of the Vidyadhara many years ago, they seemed to me to be like the satellites of some great sun, each reflecting that sun's warmth and light in their own different, unique ways. Though I never met Simon, I'm glad that he had such a deep effect on so many people, and I'm personally grateful for this reminder of the power of the path.

Rick Finney

Our dear friend Simon Luna

2007-08-20T07:46:00.001-03:00

In 1974, I was flying into Denver with the Vidyadhara. As the flight attendant announced our imminent landing, although I was not feeling particularly nervous Rinpoche leant over to me, shook my hand and said, "Well, if we crash, I'll see you in the bardo." Up to then, Rinpoche had said nothing at all about the possible reality of
the bardos so I was rather taken aback. Nevertheless, I asked "But how will I find you, Rinpoche?" He replied, "Don't worry, I'll find you." I take this to apply to all of his students, whether they met him in this life or not, including of course our dear friend Simon Luna.

warm regards,
Jeremy

one of the sweetest

2007-08-19T23:49:00.000-03:00

i did not know him well, but just the short time i spent with him was profound. he was one of the sweetest, most loving people i've ever known. he was inspiring to me, giving me a sense that meditation practice can have a deep and positive effect on a person. he was a living example of compassion and insight.

after my last retreat in vermont, i carpooled south to boston with him. what good fortune it was to spend three hours in the car. it felt like i was a small sapling and he was a cool rain. i talked with him about long, intensive retreats. he had completed a series of three year long retreats - 14 or more hours a day of meditation practice and contemplation - without days off. i've been considering doing the same. he encouraged me to proceed. if i were to obtain even a small measure of his kindness, his open heartedness and generosity from my meditation practice and studies i would consider it a tremendous success for my life.

-davee

Tributo a Simon Luna

2007-08-19T22:36:00.001-03:00

Simon.

Voce nos deixou.

Voce que nos disse tantas vezes para meditar.

Para sair do casulo... Para sermos guerreiros Shambhala, adultos, fortes, corajosos, amaveis, generosos e amorosos...

Nos sempre achamos que o teríamos como nosso mestre, guru, pai.

Creio que agora voce nos diz: eu ensinei, agora voces ensinam, voces cuidam dos novos guerreiros. O mundo precisa de muitos deles, agora e com voces...

Christina.

The great and gentle mountain

2007-08-19T16:50:00.001-03:00

I knew Simon in a retreat in petrópolis, Brazil, in 2004. His gentleness, patience and the deep way he transmit the teachings captivated me right in the first moment. After that, we kept our communication through e-mails. In 2005 we met in a another retreat, and my respect and admiriation for me just increased. I felt a deep connection whith him, although the distance. We were still writing to each other, and through this i was learning a lot and getting deeper in the the teachings and connecting more and more whith his lineage and it s aproach. I was looking forward to meet him in october here in Brazil. Yesterday i opened my email box and became aware of what happened, it me made very sad and shaked, it was a shoking strike of impermanence. I hope that the whole process of bardo occur in the best possible way.

-Receba GRATIS

Re: Acharya Luna

2007-08-19T15:04:00.001-03:00

Last month, I called my wife, Sue at home to tell her how deeply touched I
was with Acharya Luna, who was directing the 2007 Vajrayana Seminary. I told
Sue how I couldn't believe how a person could be both so gentle and have
such a strong core. Sue, who already knew him said,"Oh yes, Simon's a
mountain!" I mentioned the same thing to Acharya Rosenthal, who said, "Of
course! He has completely embodied the view! How else could he be?"

Simon was the perfect example of a shinjanged meditator. His devotion and
loyalty to Trungpa Rinpoche and Sakyong Mipham was deep and joyful, and his
every movement was marked by kindness, patience and humor.

On a personal note, I learned a lot from him -- seeing how humility and
confidence could be joined together. Although I was a rookie faculty member
at Vajrayana Seminary, Simon asked me to instruct the new tantrikas in the
Primordial Rigden Ngondro. He offered me the teacher's chair and microphone
and sat by my side --- and almost every time I asked him if he had something
to add, he would nod to me, indicating that I was doing just fine. He was so
gracious and humble, because he had nothing to prove or protect. His
egolessness was the true dharmic display.

One thing I will always remember is how he started so many meetings and
talks with a spontaneous and touching contemplation that brought our hearts
and aspirations together, on the spot. These were such skillful offerings --
so tremendously grounding and profound.

Simon walked the walk, thereby fully carrying forth the lineage of the
Sakyongs. This is a huge loss for Shambhala and the world.

Please do tonglen for Simon - one of the most beautiful human beings I've
ever met.

With Love,
Alan Anderson

About Simon

2007-08-19T04:17:00.001-03:00

About Simon

I have known Simon Luna for many years. Mainly our
connection was Dharma, through the air of devotion.
During the difficulties that beset our sangha
following the Vidydhara's paranirvana, Simon and I
found ourselves on diametrically opposing sides of a
very high fence. Throughout this very embattled
time, both of us recognized the deeper reality of
having the same guru, and of possessing a bond within
the guru mandala that is in fact indissoluble. This
was not the most common understanding of that time.
In order to recognize and preserve our bond, we called
each other, "Vajra Brother," whenever we met, or, "My
Vajra Brother." This reality burst through the fog
of dismay like the sun, and always caused us both to
smile.

Over the years we always discussed Dharma. I recall
the moment when he answered a teacher's exam question:
"At what point do all Dharmas agree?" "Egolessness!"
came the immediate reply. I remember the time when
he addressed the Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche in a toast
as, "Your Hunkiness," to the delight of the crowd and
of the Sakyong himself. I respect greatly that Simon
did the three-year retreat. I remember he took his
entire inheritance to pay for it, without a second
thought. This 100% quality, moving ever forward
into the auspicious coincidence, mindful of the
shortness of life, accompanied Simon on his path; and
his path benefitted greatly.

When he led his first Fire Puja he consulted me on how
to conduct himself, as I was somewhat senior to him at
that time, and when he left to serve as the Acharya
for Latin America, he consulted me again on how to
hold his mind, as I had more experience in teaching in
other cultures. Likewise, when I was teaching more
widely later, I consulted him, and he asked me
rhetorically, from where is it that the source of
blessings come: he reminded me they come from the
guru, and only the guru. And again that smile lit up
his face. The irony of choicelessness was never far
away.

His path accelerated after his Acharya appointment--a
development everyone who knew him noticed, as it was
so unmistakable. He did not develop what his
daughter Sarah so accurately described at his
Sukhavati in Boulder last night (August 17th) as an
"acharyahead." Simon worked with theism on his path,
and he made great strides in dealing with it, quite
possibly penetrating through. In his latter years, he
developed greater genuineness, greater humility,
accuracy and confidence, and gentle authentic
presence. In March of this year, 2007, he and I
engaged in a lengthy and wonderful email exchange,
which cannot at this time be shared, owing to
confidentiality which Simon and I agreed to maintain.
It was the most authentic correspondence I can recall
having experienced, in the sense of straightforward
honesty and kindness conjoined in one expression. It
was beautiful, owing to the eloquence of his speech.
We discussed affairs of state, personal matters, and
obstacles mutually understood; somehow the subtle and
profund inexpressibility of the yogic path became the
implication. I told him that such communication is
very hard to come by. It was like a drop of honey
leaking from a shooting star and landing on the
tongue, this taste of coemergent vajra truth, and it
stays with me in a present way, even though I now
practice letting my old friend and vajra brother go
on.

It is said that those who complete the three-year
retreat enter samadhi after death--samadhi in the case
of even sudden death being defined by knowing one has
died, and maintaining a stable mind. Simon is surely
such a one as this.

Bill Karelis
18 August 2007

Thank you, Simon

2007-08-18T23:13:00.001-03:00

Simon was my first meditation instructor back in Austin in the early
80's when I was younger and wilder. He was my friend, I cooked him
dinner and we sat under my pecan tree looking at the night sky,
talking. His warmth and spaciousness were a gift. My infant son and
I went to Sarah's birthday party, Simon playfully swung the pinata
all around, we sang Feliz Cumpleanos in the park and I liked how much
he loved his daughter. Simon found humour in life, and I could not
help but laugh at my seeming complexities with him.

It has been many years since I have seen him, but one does not forget
someone like Simon. I am grateful for his kindness and for being my
friend in that restless time of my life. Both Simon and Robin
Kornman, who was my second meditation instructor, gone, gone, in one
month. Along with the Vidyahara, three teachers gone...
May I quickly and thoroughly put into action all that they have so
kindly and generously shared with me.

Denise Kilshaw
Kelowna, BC

For Simon

2007-08-18T11:44:00.000-03:00

For Simon (on his passing)

Jim saw you in a dream last night.

You were standing in his backyard,

smiling and waving.

Last time I saw you

was at Encampment in August 2006.

You arrived as a VIP guest,

but quickly assumed the role of

Court Kusung.

You volunteered for every available shift

and spent long hours

tending to the kitchen sink, day to day

needs of his Majesty’s environment

with gentleness and precision;

with curiosity and humor;

never seeking attention;

always supporting others;

genuinely appreciating the process

of service.

Simon, I think you got it right;

all the way from San Antonio

to Santiago;

You never strayed from the path.

See you next time around.

Mountain Drum (Dave Whitehorn)

Halifax

17August2007