Cliff Esler was born in Washington, DC during the Second World War, February 24th 1945. Being from a military family he moved many times during his youth. He attended College of the Holy Cross in Worchester MA. Cliff was a father, husband to Suzanne Townsend, writer, woodworker/carpenter, technical writer, surfer, kasung and a lifelong sailor. He had a wonderful heart and was appreciated by his many friends and family. Cliff moved to Canada in 1968 to avoid taking part in the Vietnam War. He first lived in Toronto, then in 1970-71 he moved to Cherry Hill on the South Shore of Nova Scotia. In 1974 he built a small tall octagonal house in Broad Cove so he could climb upstairs to see if the surf was up. This was the first of 3 homes he would build for himself in NS. I believe the first major exposure he had to the dharma was attending the Conquering of the four Maras seminar at the Keltic Lodge in Ingonish, Cape Breton in 1980. It was there that Cliff began his heart connection with Trungpa Rinpoche and also Cape Breton. Cliff worked building the main shrine room at Gampo Abbey in the mid 80s and returned again in 1990 to work on the construction of Sopa Choling. He also worked on constructing the Stupa of Enlightenment in 2020 at Gampo Abbey. Cliff’s last working years were as an editor for Metals Economic Group in Halifax. Nine years ago Cliff moved to Cape Breton eventually purchasing land and building Thorn Rose Cottage in Grand Etang. Cliff also helped out with projects like the Nova Scotia Sea School, Car Share, and developing websites. He was the webmaster for Samadhi Ling outside of Baddeck. His last project was transcribing the tapes from the 4 maras and interviewing people who attended. He was a great community member here in Cape Breton, always helping out people when he could. He was a daily practitioner and always hungry for the dharma. Cliff’s relationship with his dear friend Sybil brought much joy to his last year. We will miss him terribly but encourage him on his journey. The Cape Breton community, his son Ames with his partner Beth and a few other brave folks from Halifax practiced and gathered with his body at this home for 3 days. It was blowing a gale the whole time except for the end of his sukhavati when the winds just stopped for a brief while. To Cliff’s wishes he had a green burial on his own property. Cliff is survived by sisters Susan, Marion and Ellen, children Ames and Emmeline, her daughter Tilley and his great granddaughter Estelle.