Surmang Khenpo describes Ginny as a true practitioner, a yogini. Having seen over the course of nearly twenty years what a steadfast, cheerful, and humble person she was, I’m not surprised by his comment. She was the anchor of Konchok Foundation until the fragility of her health forced her to step back a few years ago. (Her husband Howard helpfully stepped forward to take over a couple of her key tasks when she could no longer do them.) Ginny’s need to step back felt like such a blow that I very ungraciously asked her to drag out the process over quite an extended period.
Ginny’s wide circle of friends and acquaintances in the sangha include the great majority of the many hundreds of people who’ve participated in supporting Surmang via Konchok Foundation.
She and her husband Howard Lipson hosted Surmang Khenpo at their home for extended periods. Now that she has entered the end of life bardo, he is now arranging pujas for her with the monks and nuns at Surmang. I think one of her few regrets was that her health was never strong enough to travel to Surmang herself, but she is certainly there now, in spirit.
Much as we may be fundamentally alone, it’s the experience of the passing of important people from our lives that makes one, or at least me, feel more alone. That’s how I feel about Ginny’s departure.