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Tributes
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The tributes below were posted between April 4 and May 26, 2007 to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Trungpa Rinpoche's parinirvana.
Sangha tribute blog
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Douglas Penick
Douglas Penick, a long time student of Chogyam Trungpa, is the author of several books about Gesar of Ling, as well as the libretto for two operas: Ashoka's Dream and King Gesar, both composed by Peter Lieberson. He was also, at one time, Trungpa Rinpoche's brother in law.
In 1977, I happened to be seated next to the Vidyadhara for several hours at
an afternoon reception. An unbroken stream of people came up, knelt and
spoke to him about projects new and old: curricula for classes at the
dharmadhatus and Naropa Institute, possibilities of inviting visiting
teachers, business enterprises, kasung meetings, refinements to the deleg
system, fundraising, personnel problems, committees for health and
well-being, and so forth. After one of the final guests had presented some
plan or other, the Vidyadhara turned to me inquiringly, and I shrugged. Then
he glared, pushed his face in mine, poked me hard in the chest, and hissed
intently.
"Never forget, Douglas, the family business is PEOPLE."
Twenty years after his Parinirvana, this bald statement still expresses the
heart of all the Vidyadhara's work.
© 2007 Douglas Penick
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