(the original announcement of Karl's death, March 15, 2019) Dear Sangha Friends, It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Mr. Karl G. Springer following a long illness, on March 13, 2019, in Seattle. [Funeral details below.] Mr. Springer was a close and long-time student of the Vidyadhara, the Venerable Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and served him in many capacities as the Vidyadhara worked to establish the teachings of the Buddha and Shambhala dharma throughout the world. Karl met the Vidyadhara in the early ‘70’s at the Vermont retreat center, then known as Tail of the Tiger, now Karme Choling, and quickly stepped into the first of many roles of responsibility as the Executive Director. During his years with the Vidyadhara and the Vajra Regent Osel Tendzin, and as a Board member of Vajradhatu, Karl served most prominently as the Director of External Affairs, which meant that at one time or another, and often concurrently, he was in charge of the network of local Dharmadhatus; the Shambhala Training program; Karme Choling; and the tours and visits of the Buddhist teachers hosted by Vajradhatu – great masters including His Holiness the Sixteenth Karmapa, His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche, His Holiness Dudjom Rinpoche, Tulku Urgyen, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, His Holiness Sakya Trizin, the venerable Kalu Rinpoche, and many others. For good measure, Karl was also one of the leaders of the creation of Naropa Institute and served as its first Executive Director. Karl always accepted his assignments and the trust bestowed upon him with great energy and devotion. He was known for his loyalty to the teachers and teachings of the Buddha throughout both the western and eastern worlds of dharma, including the United Nations. Trungpa Rinpoche wrote a poem to Karl that is now well known as the title of a volume of Trungpa’s collected poems: “Timely Rain” In the jungles of flaming ego, May there be cool iceberg of bodhicitta. On the racetrack of bureaucracy, May there be the walk of the elephant. May the sumptuous castle of arrogance Be destroyed by vajra confidence. In the garden of gentle sanity, May you be bombarded by coconuts of wakefulness. 20 October 1977