The Passing of Ron Barnstone

I spent a very brief time with Ron many years ago in Boulder. What impressed me most, very different than all the dramatic true stories, was what a great-hearted, true gentleman he was. I'm so glad he had a loving wife, Juana, to share life with, and to take care of him at the end.

Semper Fi, Ron

Below it's written: "He's the only person I know who's ever been kicked out of a fire puja!" So he's probably the only person who's ever been kicked out of a fire puja more than once! In Italy, at Casa Garuda, 10 years ago, Ron was the fire puja chopon for a CKS FO.
His flask was constantly refilled not with tequila, but with grappa.
Ron had no limits, neither in his devotion to the Vidyadhara
nor in his love of pure alcohol, which led him to extreme behavior
and which doesn't exactly mesh well with the precision required for a FO chopon.
The lopon kicked him out after two days.
I ended up taking his place. I persuaded Ron to stay by my side to share all his knowledge.
Behind his tough shell,
His heart was immense,
And so was his intensity.
He was totally unmanageable.
He was colossal.
He was also an incredible kyudo practitioner.
At 80 years old—tequila or not—his shooting was dazzling.
He must be crossing the bardo with long, confident steps.

I had not seen Ron since the fire puja at DDL 10 years ago? Three months ago he called me as I was leaving a werma feast in Annapolis, NS. Don’t know how he got my number. Wanted to share old kasang stories, war stories he called them. That was our connection. We had some good stories to share!
Told me he was married to a beautiful young lady. Had some health issues. We said goodbye. I was amazed!
Ron was unlike anyone. His devotion to the Vidyadhara was so simple, true, solid like rock.
One story-at seminary Bedford Springs, late night after talk, the elevator going three flights to Rinpoche’s quarters was not working. Ron quickly grabbed my right forearm at the elbow, told me to grab his left elbow making a seat. We carried Rinpoche quickly up three flights of stairs, Rinpoche broadly smiling and laughing all the way.

I saw Ron when he visited us in Boulder a couple of years ago. He wanted to see photos that I took of our trip to Casa Werma in Mexico. Ron and I served as kusung to the Vidhyadhara and Lady Diana on that trip which was full of both mishaps and auspiciousness leading to the Druk Sakyong's composing of the Werma Sadhana. We sang the Shambhala anthem in Spanish and were supported by the dralas of that place. Ron was cherished by CTR.

Met Ron at Rinpoche s house in 4 mile canyon . 1970 ?
He had just arrived , we sat by the creek and he told me tales of his travels to Benares , Varanasi in India .
I was impressed by his world travel at the time .over the years sipped the Mezcal , and lived next door to him at RMDC .
I’ll see him in the next world maybe
Rest in peace my friend

Oh, I remembered a story about Ron that blew my mind! I heard he was at a Seminary or elsewhere, and he became really despondent. He decided to commit sepuku, and he cut his stomach open with a large blade. He was rushed to a hospital and when the doctors examined his sliced open belly, they discovered a big tumor! His act probably saved his life! It blew my mind remembering it now! That story is why I remember him.

Kasung Barnstone - You stand relieved.

We have the watch.

I remember him at the ’81 seminary, practicing sword kata alone, upstairs in a lobby area of Chateau Lake Louise. Ron had the most intensely deliberate gait I’d ever seen- cutting through space with an embodied tiger walk!

I found Ron a little jarring when he broke a wine glass and then drank wine from the jagged edges at Kalapa Assembly! Reminded me of somebody. What a gift to our world.

Barnstone…passed? Impossible. In my memory he is a pillar, a force. I think it was when HHK16 was being treated in Zion, Illinois. Ron and a friend stayed in my parents’ house near Chicago. My memory is of his stainless devotion. No doubt. Just there. So very sweet. Best wishes dear friend.

Ron got ink all over me (on purpose) during stroke practice at the mahasangha retreat in 2021. A neat guy, eccentric and delightful. He'll be missed.

From Juana Gonzalex, Ron's wife: "It was like a beautiful shooting star that went out slowly but quickly at the same time, thank you my love for everything you taught me and did for me, you changed my life and were for me in difficult and chaotic times, you were my client, friend Boss and husband, all in such a short time was a torture to see you sick of being a man so vital and healthy to be prostrated calcoming you slowly by cancer, I will have you in my heart always and I will take into account everything you told me is that now you're more serca than me in every step I take and you won't leave me alone
I love you forever my Ron Barnstone. Thanks to all his friends and colleagues for keeping an eye on him and his health

I enjoyed seeing Ron after many years, especially after Ron got in touch to order a copy of my early years as a student of Grandpa Joe Gómez. Joe & Adrián were early mentors of Lama Foundation up above Taos. I was fresh-out-of Smith College & starting out on a Journey that has led a lifetime. I’m not sure when Ron came to Taos, but Ron may have met Joe At Taos Pueblo. Meanwhile up the Hill at Lama we early residentes were becoming students of Joe. I had been invited to come up to Lama, meet Joe & learn from Joe. Steve Durkee one of a group of new york artists who were creating Lama & making art asked me if i would like to come up help with a book that they wanted as he liked my art. I said yes & went up the mountain - it has been a good road as it turns out- the book was BE HERE NOW - who knew that i was joining a life long journey! a few people have heard this story but Ron was one & didn’t forget - and oddly enough his road was changed as well. I met Rinpoche on the road at Lama, and others did too- Berkeley, Pema many touched by Rinpoche. I’m old now - but so grateful for road we’ve travelled, meeting so many of our teachers - i’m pretty sure Ron would agree that we have been blessed beyond Measure - may all beings flourish!

What a unique, outstanding character Ron was, a superbly dedicated practitioner with the unabashed guts and presence of a toreador! He was unapologetically rowdy at times, he is only person I know who got kicked out of a fire puja! Yet more primarily a dedicated, graceful and accomplished practitioner of Buddha Dharma and Tai Chi, and hard-wired in his heart to the heart of Trungpa Rinpoche. And a close comrade to Vajrayogini, Chakrasamvara and the rest of the yidam assembly. I'll always remember sitting on the couch with Ron and a few other friends at 1111 Pearl, the first dharma center of Trungpa Rinpoche in Boulder, when he would return from trips to Mexico with a bottle or two of Mezcal which we would pass back and forth and finish off during long spicy interchanges of dharma talk and community chatter! If his sangha ever wanted a true friend, Ron was both a warm-hearted comrade and a challenge to the influences of pretentiousness and self-importance! I feel like his sincerity and mischievousness were both his connection to Trungpa Rinpoche and an expression of Trungpa Rinpoche himself from his heart of devotion. He was both an exemplary practitioner as well as a force to be reckoned with! Ron, may we all ride together again in the thunderous force of our samaya bonds and mutual vajra passion! And enjoy more toasts of Mezcal to the vast cosmos, the guru himself! Vaya con Vajradhara!

I first met Ron in 1981 at Seminary where he was Rinpoche's Kusung. Ron was extremely kind and generous to me, as I acted as a server for Rinpoche. Meeting Ron again in Mexico a few years back, I found he had lost none of his humour nor his playfulness. May he benefit all those he meets.

I knew of Ron way back, not well but more by reputation. I remember Rinpoche gave him the Shambhala name “Raw Meat”, which was somehow fitting. A colorful character, perhaps Vajradhatu’s version of Pig Pen of the Grateful Dead, but with more panache. He’ll definitely be noticeable when the next go round comes around. Sail on, sailor, sail on.