The Passing of Martha Bonzi

Martha was such a truly joyful human being in so many ways that infused our friendship, our sangha and in the world altogether. She was the epitome of the lion's roar....the proclamation of truth is fearless! Personally I loved to spar with her as to what the truth was exactly and we both reveled in the debate and fun of it all. She is a true friend that resides deep in my heart and tickles it when I least expect it!
In re-establising the Shambhala Trust around 1995, she changed the usual format of just turning over monies to the adminstration to a process where she embraced the third jewel, the Sangha. Proposals would come to us, the group would approve the request in principle and then each Trust member would give or not give depending on their personal connections and views. We avoided the need for consensus and this is where the magic happened. She created this format and it was such a success. She lead our meetings for many years and not only encouraged us to express our honest views but demanded we be truly curious and inspire others to give. The meetings could also be rather tumultuous but Martha lead the way and she herded us cats with humor and vigor. Her legacy is the many fortunate grantees who benefitted countless others.

There was a lovely sukhavati ceremony for Martha at the Halifax Shambhala Centre today (November 9, 2025). As we entered the shrine room, each participant was invited to take their own copy of the photo and write up below.

I met Martha when she arrived at Naropa Institute to register for the BA in Buddhist Studies. Little did I know then what an impact she was about to have on Naropa, on myself, and on the broader world of CTR in North America. Martha was extremely generous in her support of Naropa University, the Nalanda Translation Committee, the Halifax Buddhist sangha, and many other organizations and individuals. Her donation of one million dollars allowed us to establish Naropa’s endowment fund, and her support was pivotal in our move to Lincoln School and our acquisition of the Arapahoe campus. But what I most appreciate about Martha was not just what she gave but how she gave! Martha gave straightforwardly and with directness, without looking for affirmation nor for recognition. She was clear about what she wanted to support and equally clear about what she chose not to. She did not backtrack or second guess. And once she had donated, she let it go and moved on, no strings attached, no plaque, no “naming opportunity,” no focus on herself. From Martha I learned a lot about giving and receiving with kindness, simplicity, and sanity.
Martha’s connection with Trungpa Rinpoche was deep and strong, as was her commitment to the dharma. I relied on her support and friendship over the years and the many ups and downs of our community. I could count on her as a true friend to give honest feedback and not shy away from difficult discussions. At the same time there was so much warmth and laughter. I will miss all of that— as well as Martha’s famous “rumdums.”

Dearest Martha...I can't help but address this to you as a living being...because you are. You are present in the hearts of legions of students, retreatants, readers, translators, authors, poets, teachers, organizers, donators, receivers, friends, children, grandchildren, monastics, administrators, gardeners and, and, and...living and yet to live.
At this moment I am touching your hearty laugh, twinkly smile, and humble modesty of being such a basically good human. xox

Martha was a dear friend for many years. She hosted John and myself at her home in Maine on many occasions. She was constantly giving. Seeing my interest in the Five Wisdoms, she said, "Why don't you right a book." Then she sought funding to support me while writing it. This was a relatively small gesture compared to the large funds to many of our organization, but it was a game changer for me. It launched me on decades of work with that profound body of teachings. I owe a lot to her.

Martha did so many things anonymously while humbly and genuinely meeting the dharma as an ordinary student. One time she sponsored a Bhutanese student for three years and took us through a learning process on how to work with donors at the same time. She was always fun, whether showing up for a barbecue or joining a feast. And it was an inspiration to be around Martha and Helen together, a mother-daughter team of vision.

Martha's vision and abundant generosity created the many cauldrons of dharmic activity that have benefitted so many generations of practitioners. Far from shying away from funding 'bricks and mortar" she relished the opportunities. Naropa shouldn't be a tenant in the Lincoln School, we should own it. We shouldn't be next door to a ramshackle collection of cottages owned by others but they should be ours. The Knights of Columbus inhabited 1084 Tower Road so that Martha could invite the Vidyadhara to empower the space. The Nalanda Translators deserved a space to offer their services, and don't forget about retreat spaces,
But the power of Martha is not primarily about transactions but a heart connection to the dharma, to her teachers and her passion to encourage and support practitioners who shared that deep inspiration. I never had a legal client quite like Martha, Judy and I never had a housemate quite like Martha and the sangha never had a mother and sister quite like Martha. All our love for Martha on her journey and to Helen, her siblings and Martha's grandchildren who shared Martha with so many.

Martha entered our mandala as a Naropa undergraduate student in the early 1980's after raising her family and moving to Boulder from California. She loved her fellow students and brought her humor, love of beauty and delight to every classroom. Naropa suffered terribly in those days, on the verge of closure constantly. Only after she graduated did she disclose to me, over a lunch at the Boulderado, that she was the anonymous donor of a million dollars to our endowment, the purchase of property near Lincoln School, and the support for renovation of our main building, meaning that Naropa could continue and the faculty and staff could be paid. I broke down and wept! In the years that followed, I accompanied her on adventures in her world of largesse, including the opening of Gampo Abbey, the discovery of the building for Shambhala Centre Halifax, the support of Nalanda Translation Committee, and so forth. Through it all, she was committed to the propagation of the Vidyadhara's world in tangible, strategic, pragmatic ways and was always humble, playful, and discerning. We can never repay her generosity and kindness. She was also a lot of fun! May her transition be smooth and luminous.

Martha Bonzi was a woman of wisdom, generosity, and quiet strength — clear-minded and wonderfully crisp in her way of seeing the world. She found beauty everywhere: through the lens of her camera, in the rhythm of her garden, and most of all in the lives of her children and grandchildren, whom she cherished.
Her presence was a gift to those fortunate enough to know her, and her spirit continues to shine through the lives she touched.
May her memory be a blessing and her wisdom a lasting guide.

Martha was a sweetheart. Humble and sharp. She endured through all the neurosis we have about money and supported us in ways that last. She bailed us out financially, more than once! J She must've seen the authentic opportunity that Chogyam Trungpa offered this world and did what she could to make it happen in so many ways. I will always be grateful to her for Otso Shingsa (Milk Lake farm) where I had the most profound and wonderful retreats. And for her wonderful daughter Helen! Of course 🙂

Martha Bonzi's extraordinary generosity that went toward building so much of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche's world, our world of Vajradhatu, Nalanda, Shambhala -- "the whole catastrophe" !! -- calls up so many cliche's!! Namely, "unparalleled". I forget when this started, but the finding of and buying of the "Southern Land", Dorje Kyung Dzong, a.k.a. the "Southern Land, in Southern Colorado, was an important kick-off. (Someone with a good history memory needs to educate us all.) She was a delightful woman, whom I'm grateful to have known. My heart and love goes out to her daughter Helen!

Martha was generous, not just materially, it she had a big heart and tremendous willingness to really be with people. My heart goes out to her family, but her legacy will nurture and inspire many generations.

Martha was in my dorje kasung squad at the 1985 seminary. She was a never-failing, stalwart right hand and friend. Even though we haven't seen one another since then. I will miss her continuing example of a true dharma practioner. Travel well!