Tribute to Paul Halpern

Dear Dorje Kasung,

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:31:00 +0000

It is with a heavy heart this evening that we share news of the passing of Paul Halpern, Rupon. Paul had been battling pancreatic cancer with refreshing honesty, and enjoyed a remarkable sense of renewed health that might seem impossible to most of us. His email updates on his condition were not only examples of how well he could express himself in the written word, but served as a reminder of how brave we all might be in facing such circumstance. His sense of humor was always evident.

Paul became Rusung of the Washington, DC, squadron in 1978. After serving as Rusung there, attending several Rusung conferences in Boulder and serving as a Dorje Kasung at the earliest Kalapa Assemblies, Paul moved to Boulder and took on a number of roles in the Boulder squadron before moving to Halifax. He attended many encampments (his first was in 1980)—-in early years as a grunt, in middle years in leadership, and in later years as staff looking after shrine, practice, and liturgy. He has served many years in a variety of ways, always putting others first, including holding the post as Adjutant for the first CMR. Most recently, he served as a devoted member of the Halifax Dorje Kasung, supporting his wife Faye during her tenure as Regional Commander to Great Eastern Sun region. In his household, so devoted to the daily operations of the Dorje Kasung, he never stopped being a reliable member of local regiment, taking staff roles for countless visits. At the same time, he contributed his experience as an elder and editor to preserving and articulating the teachings of the Dorje Kasung, for which we will all continue to find ourselves thankful. He was a valuable combination of expertise and ongoing daily devotion.

In the words of Dragon Dapon Barry Boyce: "As a Rusung in Washington, Paul was thoroughly dedicated and had tremendous attention to detail and care for squad members. He led the squadron through His Holiness the Dalai Lama's first visit to North America and His Holiness the XVIth Karmapa's visit to Washington in 1980. He planned operations as if he were Rommel himself. On the job, his uniform was always impeccable and he was an exemplar of how Kasung should address each other, carry themselves, and know the details of their duty. Paul was an eccentric and he knew it, and he knew that was how he had to be. And therefore he carried it off with great humor and warmth. A smile would emerge on Paul's face like a cloud taking shape in the sky. A quip would slip out like a snake darting out of hiding. A scholar, Paul was a student of the Greek and Roman classics and a voracious reader; his mind was sharp and eclectic. He was a vital editorial eye and a wordsmith for many Kasung publications over the years, including the first Gesar handbook and the most recent edition of the Kasung handbook, which he was still concerned about even after he took ill. Above all, Paul loved the teachers he served—the Vidyadhara, the Sakyong, and all the great figures of the lineages. Paul thought of himself as a Kasung above all else, in whatever he was doing and wherever he was, and I am certain that his final thoughts as he left us were of the True Command."

In the words of Makpon Jesse Grimes: "Paul was a Dorje Kasung to the core. He awoke as a Dorje Kasung, went through his day as a Dorje Kasung, and slept as a Dorje Kasung. I had the privilege of working with him over many years and was fortunate to work with him over this last year on the new Dorje Kasung Handbook. Paul brought his sharp insight, humor and loyalty to that project, which will benefit the Dorje Kasung for many years to come."

Please join all of us now and in the next few days in keeping Paul, his wife Faye, his brother Alex and his whole extended family in our thoughts and practice.

On behalf of the Council of the Makkyi Rabjam,

Yours in the True Command,

Makpon Jesse Grimes and
Field Commander Bonnie Hankin

A friend from high school

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:26:00 +0000

ASIJ [American School in Japan] friends -- Paul Halpern was an artist, a person of creativity and deep (Buddhist) faith. My memories of him go back to senior year at ASIJ when he used to translate Juvenal's satires from Latin for me, and accompany his translations with crazy cartoons. He was a very good friend to me in the lonely years after I'd left Japan and couldn't quite find my way in this country. He was a private person, not in the midst of class conversations or group reunions, so many of you may not have known what a jewel he was. I knew he was ill, but he didn't want a lot of fuss. In his last email to me he still sounded pretty healthy, and I was just on the verge of sending him a video of my granddaughter when I saw, with shock, the announcement from the alumni office. He will be very much missed. With love, Nancy Van Wyk Phillips

From Jon A. Frank

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:11:00 +0000

As the Halifax sangha gathers to honor our friend and sangha brother, Paul Halpern, we will be doing the same in Washington, D.C. As everyone knows by now, this is where Paul joined the sangha of the Dorje Dradul and began his career in the Dorje Kasung. Something about Paul lends itself to vivid memories, starting with the evening he first appeared at an open house, and introduced himself as Alex Halpern's brother. Not that any of us had any idea who Alex Halpern was. In any event, Paul disappeared for a bit, then came back, moved into one of our group houses, and joined our fledgling dorje kasung squad, which had been created from whole cloth in anticipation of His Holiness Karmapa's first visit to Washington in 1976. In short order, Paul took on the mantle of leader of our squad, eventually deciding that it would be a good idea for us to have a rusung, and promptly informing the command group in Boulder of his appointment.^* A few years later, after Paul had departed for the west, the Kasung Kyi Kyap would comment during a visit that this was a rather non-standard approach to appointing a rusung, but that the command group had decided to go along with it and, in retrospect, it had worked out rather well.

Mr. Boyce has described Paul's unique qualities more eloquently than I can. I can only laugh at his description of our center as a hot bed of temporary proof reading services. The anecdotes could be legion, but I will spare you. However, let it be known that I once spilled some sake at a party, and Rusung Halpern, with evident glee, commanded me to "please commit seppuku." I've always assumed he was kidding.

As Rusung, Paul's devotion to duty inspired the same in his squad. He also had an intuitive understanding of Shambhala culture, and in this respect brought his literary and other interests to bear. Those were the days when independent movie theaters still thrived in Washington, and when the Biograph had one of its six week festivals of Japanese Cinema, he would lead the entire squad out to see some of his favorites.

More to the point than any of these old memories, however, is that the fact that as sad as we all are, we are also moved and inspired by who Paul was, and is. Every time I saw him in subsequent years, the last time at the Sakyong's wedding, I was touched by his openness and warmth. He shed his hard shell, and let the sun of his basic goodness shine. That's all any of us can do, and Paul continued to do it as he shared the path of his cancer so directly and openly with us. So, jolly good show, old friend. Such thunderstorm does not stop.

-Jon A. Frank

*Paul became a Rusung in DC at the suggestion of David Sable, the DC Ambassador to the DK leadership in Boulder.

Dear Faye,

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:10:00 +0000

My thoughts are with you at this time of great emptiness.

Paul was a brave and brilliant man with a wonderful querkiness that made
him so interesting - not to mention his very large heart.

Take care of yourself now...it's important

With love
Jan

Jan Watson
In Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia.

From David Rome

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:09:00 +0000

Oh my. He seemed to be holding his own in his recent email. I am truly saddened, Paul was such a presence--I always think of him as young and eager, shy, his unforgettable way of saying profound things and swallowing his words at the same time. His wry loyalty. His bemused courage.

Martha joins me in sending our loving thoughts to Alex and all of you, we join you in spirit in celebrating Paul's life.

love,
David

From Tom Edwards

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:06:00 +0000

Two early memories of Paul that I will never forget – and I shared these with Alex this past summer at SMC. During the Regent's first visit to DC, the Regent was giving interviews in a room upstairs at the first Idaho Avenue house (I don't remember the address). Paul, ever the Kasung, was attending the door for these interviews, serious, proper, stoic Paul. Then after everyone else had been interviewed, Paul got to go in for his interview and I temporarily took his seat. When Paul came out he once again sat down in his chair, posture erect, proper, and cried and cried. The tears were streaming down his face and he made no effort to wipe them away. As I looked at him, I thought "Now that's devotion."

Perhaps it was during this same visit of the Regent, we were having formal dinner with the Regent in the front room and Paul was serving dinner. As he approached very carefully and nervously with the Regent's plate, just behind the Regent's right shoulder, Paul's angle shifted slightly and the Regent's entire dinner slid onto the floor. Paul looked down at the Regent with the slightest of sheepish smiles on his face. The Regent looked up at him and said "Oy vey! Banzai!!"

With love, Tom Edwards

From Dapon Barry Boyce

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 14:04:00 +0000

I'm in New York visiting family, and I was just hanging out with my nephew Eddie. We were reminiscing about exploits with Pogie. The Halperns and the Boyces are interconnected kasung families and Eddie has very fond memories of being at MPE with Sol and having many encounters with Uncle Paul. Paul had his ways about every little thing---always finding the best equipment ("here Boyce, why don't I order you one of these Swedish Sam Brownes; they're the right color and they're better than that other shit people are getting stuck with these days." I still have that Sam Browne, and he was right.

At MPE at skirmish, Paul carried two canteens, as Eddie remembers. One time Eddie and Sol had been running around and were really parched and they asked Pogie for a drink. He said, "Um, sure," and they reached for one of the canteens, and he mumbled "Whoa, that's the dark water. I have dark water and light water. Do you want the dark water?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. They drank the dark water. A little initiation into one of Paul's many rituals.

I first met Paul in 1979 when I moved to DC. I walked into a kasung meeting he was leading. At one point, for some reason, Paul said, "This is a somewhat historic occasion," and I thought, "Wow." I came to learn over time that this was one of Paul's many verbal mannerisms. We would share many "somewhat historic occasions" during those Washington days.

He had taken the time to consult my previous rusung, Bruce Banks, in Boston, and ascertained that I had some promise. He decided to take me under his wing and before long I was his khenchung. He was very mothering in a way, downloading to me what the kasung was about and how things were done. Honestly, his understanding wasn't always apparent to everyone, but those who knew, knew Paul, whose heritage and eccentric proclivities would make him stand out and hence cause him to seek the margins and the edges, found his final home in the kasung. Finalmente. The greek and roman classics, film, and many other oddments that made up his lifestream to date would go into the background. Paul would pour all that he had into the kasung and into service and camaraderie, particularly after he came back from his attending his first rusung conference with the Makkyi Rabjam. It was a watershed time for him. He fell very deeply in love with his teacher and commander.

In training me, he let me know about any behavior he regarded as "chickenshit," but he would also stand up for you when it counted. He knew I could never pull off the impeccable uniform thing, and once during a visit someone said to him, "What about Boyce, he looks like he's been sleeping in his uniform?," and Paul said, "That's probably because he has been."

A few more tidbits before I sign off. Paul and I had terrible livelihood issues in the DC days, so in addition to being Rusung and Khenchung, we were also compatriots in doing low-level editorial jobs. I was sort of Paul's sidekick at times, a kind of Laurel and Hardy thing. We used to laugh no end about things we would find in the arcane government crap we were proofing. Even in Halifax we would recall the time we were proofing legal decisions back in the DC days and came across one for "public lewdness," where the perpetrator was caught with dozens of issues of Spankers' Monthly.

We both liked to watch the Rockford Files back in those days, and Rockford was known for having a series of not-so-bright sidekicks, one of whom was named Beamer, who fancied himself an intellectual. One time Beamer commented to Rockford about how sophisticated something was, and Rockford sneered back, "How would you know Beamer?" Whenever I would wax philosophical and prophetic, Paul would shoot back, or really mumble back. "How would you know Beamer?" We never laughed so hard.

Finally, Paul did something that completely blew my mind, when he wrote his manual on bodyguarding, Keep 'Em Alive, as if he had been a top professional in the field for years. It was daringly deceptive. It was a roman a clef that drew on his kasung experiences (and it even included a Beamer-like sidekick). He wrote it under the nom de guerre Paul Elhanan, his middle name. It is Paul's great American novel.

....He will be greatly missed.

-Barry Boyce

Paul was a protector

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:54:00 +0000

Paul was a protector 24 hours a day. Continuous duty. He was an example of what it is like to hear that way, see that way, think, speak, and act that way. Ka, the dharma, the self-proclaiming truth, and Sung, protection, came together in Paul's life. He understood the Third Root as his path and practice. He was (is) Mahakala

Rough hewn- he spoke his unfiltered mind directly, not afraid to express irritation.
Learned and refined- a man of letters and language. Deep intellect, inquisitiveness, worldly knowledge. His worldly knowledge was in service to his path. Form- he knew and appreciated form, wore his uniform well, proudly, head and shoulders, dignity and power. Big heart: Irascible because he cared deeply, well-read and knowledgeable because he cared deeply, funny and ironic because he cared deeply, loyal because he cared deeply, expressing the irony of the human condition because he cared deeply.

I had the great pleasure of serving with Paul in numerous settings through the years. I always had the rock-solid sense that I was serving with a genuine warrior, sharp and direct, gentle and tough.

Mark Thorp, remarks from Sukavati in Boulder

Spontaneous Doha to Paul Halpern

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 13:49:00 +0000

So wild is my memory,
Immovable, inspiring.
What a truly fine curmudgeon,
And so subversive
What did he just say?
He knew every Nova Scotian yarn,
Cryptic, inscrutable surprise of a mind,
Handle, "Raven."
Most compassionate soldier of fortune,
"Keep 'em Alive."
A gentleman with an edge,
A playful grouch,
Gotcha!
Always formal and proper somehow,
Your loss, our loss, everybody's gain.
Iconic and comic,
A friendly brigand, smoking by the kitchen.
Rinpoche named him "Hand."
Hand always goes to heart.
Fearlessly proclaiming protector qualities
…sometimes to himself,
He was and is who we are,
The fangs of the Makkyi Rabjam's smile
Ba-tha-ba-ba-tha-ba-ba-tha-ba-ba-tha tha that's all folks!!

This arose at the Sukhavati of remembrance and celebration of this raven-like protecto's life, by his vajra brothers and sisters, at Marpa House in Boulder, 12 December, 2008. This is dedicated to the Sakyong lineage that Paul tirelessly served and is offered to Faye Halpern Rupon, Alexander Halpern, and the Halpern family.

Paean to a Bodhisattva Warrior

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:44:00 +0000

I offer this in hopes it will help inspire devotion, confidence and practice.

Like the flight of a ya in the sky,
A graceful arc piercing the heavens,
Then falling to strike,
Naturally into the earth again.

After Paul Halpern's death sangha were invited to come to his house and meditate with him before his sukhavati. I was over on the final night to Paul's house to meditate with him from 10 to midnight, the last watch. His wife, Faye, greeted us at the door saying, "Don't be sad. Paul's heart remained warm for two days." This was really joyful news of fruition along our path of devotion, service, study and practice. It was a privilege to be able to practice with Paul that night and it was a very powerful experience.

Paul looked quite good. Restful, at peace, yet still a warrior.

We did the Dorje Dradul Sadhana and it was extraordinarily vivid. The visualizations and their meanings were much easier to maintain than usual, almost spontaneous. More importantly, the power and magic and sense of presence of the Dorje Dradul and his mandala were striking.

This happened not only to me but also to my son, Nyima, and to Will Perkins who had both come over with me for this. We all felt moved and grateful for the auspicious opportunity to work with death and meditation practice. We all came away yearning for further study and practice and with greater experience and confidence of its effectiveness.

To me this was amazing to hear and I told Faye of the extraordinarily powerful experience we were having upstairs with Paul at the same time.

In his commentary on bardo teachings of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche in Halifax last weekend Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche reminded us clearly that at the time of death the best practice we can do is to call on the guru. Call on guru, dharma and sangha if we can. But by far most important is to call on the guru. The Dorje Dradul Sadhana is the Dorje Kasung practice that does just that, it calls on our guru. Paul was noted for his unfailing devotion to his guru.

The Dorje Dradul had told us he would never leave us. That he would haunt our dreams. That we could always call on him and he would come and help us. So we did. We called on the Dorje Dradul to come and help our fallen vajra brother. And he did. The Dorje Dradul came and helped. It was unmistakable. Powerful. Vivid. Yet still empty.

Paul, did you call on your guru at the time of death with confidence and love? Is that why your heart stayed warm with realization? That is my best guess. That would have been just like you.

Thank you, Paul.
Even in death, you are still a bodhisattva warrior.

In the True Command,
David Wimberly

Joyous Eccentric Ramrod

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:41:00 +0000

Master of the underbreadth stilleto
Punctilious tactician
Razor sharp dissection
And wry observation

Master of campaigns
Of The mission
Of kingdom resolve
Of form
Of words
The world of words
And the sense of the words

Master of duty
Of loyalty
Of discipline
Of stamina
Of steadiness
Of steadfastness
And heartfulness

Master student
Kasung
Subject
Comrade
Companion
Brother
And master friend

The impeccable dralas are in shock
The outrageous Draduls
Who relied and delighted in true outragous loyalty at last
Shed bittersweet tears of joy
That such an impeccable, immovable, relentless warrior servant existed always on the dot

The warrior comrades are in shock
Such an enormous gap in the line
Gap in our minds
But not an iota of gap in our hearts on the spot

Our campfires will always carry the smoky memory of Paul
Tin black coffee will always taste of Paul
Chill calisthenic humor will always shiver of Paul
Long duty wearness will always shrug of Paul
Strange moments and realizations will always smack of Paul
The humor of oddball insight will always grumble and chuckle of Paul
And the eccentric twist will always penetrate of Paul,
The rustling armour of warrior devotion.

Marty Janowitz
Warrior General
Kusung Dapon Kyi Khyap Ret.
10 December 2008

For Paul Halpern

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:40:00 +0000

Soft
As highland heather in summer, lofty and lush.

Strong
As bodhicitta's seed in samsara's muddy grasp.

Cheerful
As a babbling brook, fawning its leisurely way.

Mindful,
Though a puzzled countenance often holds sway.

Boulder dry
Though your humour, stalking its merry mark,
Maritime moist
Your eyes and, the more so, your heart.

Solomon like samurai,
Nurtured with Kiku and lox,
Rice cracker and hummus
To the Dorje Dradul's eminent delight.

Sunrise nightcap, anyone?

Fearless fool,
Ever a guard of honour for the gentle vajra kingdom,
Invincible
Be the further blossoming of your good good heart;
Werma like,
Slyly smiling samsara's endlessness awake.....

PS: "Keep your flour dry."

Affectionately offered,
Tom Downey

Such a soldier Paul

noreply@blogger.com (Chronicles of CTR) — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 22:00:00 +0000

Such a soldier Paul--
fucking intellect in action--
Hayagriva dancing.

Such a soldier Paul--
never mentioning in all those years
how I cheated you out of victory
in that '84 skirmish.

Such a soldier Paul--
loyalty before personality
duty before complaint
(but I could just hear your mumbled mantra:
"I'm not into this,
I'm not into this,"
even as your smile belied your denial.)

Such a soldier Paul--
always steadfast
always there
in whatever form
was needed.

Such a soldier Paul.

Jim Lowrey
for Paul Halpern's funeral
December 12, 2008