Tomasz (Tomek) Pietrzykowski died, in France, Friday morning, May 31st. He had been living, with his wife, Chandali, first in Poland and more recently in France, since leaving Halifax.
Tomek was a Polish physicist, computer scientist, and dharma practitioner who moved from Poland to Canada and eventually to Nova Scotia, joining the early sangha there. He became affectionately known as the “Vajra Polack”, a name given by Trungpa Rinpoche with great affection. Barbara Blouin, who carefully listened to all the Vajradhatu Seminary recordings, said she found the most delightful interactions to be those between Tomek and Trungpa Rinpoche during the 1978 seminary.
Tomek was an early arrival to Nova Scotia, becoming part of the “Standing Committee” there in 1980. How he got to Nova Scotia was actually through his Computer Science work, as he picked up on the opportunity to become head of the Computer Science Department at Acadia University, in Wolfville, Nova Scotia.
From Mark Szpakowski
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Tomek once told me he had a significant experience in Scotland in the sixties which led him to see the need for "Enlightened Society", so when he later met Trungpa Rinpoche there was an immediate connection. Over the last decade Tomek continued to work on what he called "Wisdom Society", through zoom meetings, a web site, and a YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@wisdomsociety5006).
He wrote: “I loved physics and started my studies in this field, later on switching to mathematics. Unfortunately (for money) I started to do informatics and, later on, Buddhism and Shambhala, but no regrets.
Once I told Dizigar Kongtrul that for several years I had been reading Longchenpa’s _Treasury of Dharmadhatu_ and I liked Barron's translation. He was happy and told me that reading it could be sufficient. … I told him that the whole book is a 14th-century vision of super-advanced physics. He told me to try to express it in this way, that it will help the world. Unfortunately, I am now too old and my memory is fading, so we agreed to do it in the next lifetime.
That is the whole story, which appears rather strange but is true. "
I remember Dzongsar Khyentse teasing Tomek during the Vajrakilaya teachings in Halifax, 1989, calling him Unbearable Goodness of Being a play on the book/movie title Unbearable
lightness of Being. May your onwards journey be smooth, Tomek.
Tomasz Pietrzykowski was in some ways completely fearless.
For example, he hired me, a software engineer with no degree and just a recommendation from a sangha member, to manage software development for a new company that would develop a completely new kind of programming language. The Druk Sakyong named the company TGS Systems!
I was living in Karme Choling at that time trying to finish my ngondro. So I drove to Montreal and flew to Halifax for an interview. I was aware that Tomasz hired me, in part, to help fulfill Rinpoche's KOS vision, to bring more of the Vajradhatu sangha to Canada, as he predicted problems to come in the USA. Tomasz took a big risk with me then and I'm glad to say that it paid off for TGS Systems while being one of the greatest technical challenges of my life.
Tomasz and his colleague Dr Phil Cox had come up with the idea that computer programs could be graphical and based on the execution of data-flow diagrams. That lead to the development of the Prograph programming language which was released on the Macintosh around 1988 and which won various awards at the time. That whole intiative also took courage.
As anyone who has done it knows, to ask a question of Trungpa, Rinpoche in a teaching setting took real courage. Tomasz did that repeatedly and it is often due to him, when reading the seminary and other transcripts, that his determination to stick to his line of questioning, in-spite of Rinpoche's often odd responses, produces invaluable insights.
I was able to visit with him and Chandali where they were living in France about ten years ago and I kept in touch a little from time to time. His mind was still active and fertile with ideas.
Tomasz was Polish and Jewish and I seem to recall that he was hidden and protected during the second world war by a catholic family. A terrifying time. After graduation, while on a trip to the West he defected from the soviet-controlled country of his birth. Another courageous act.
Before I heard of his passing I was sitting in one of my outdoor meditation spots and some thoughts of my time at TGS Systems came to mind. In an instant Tomasz was there in the space before me and he was thanking me. For what I don't really know! The thanks should all have been mine.
I saw that he was very happy and he seemed to be saying "I have to go now to meet the boss". So I had to sing the Shambhala anthem for him and to cry Ki Ki! So So! for this wonderful man.
Thank-you Tomasz and I pray that we will meet again!
I knew Tomek from the old days and a bit in Boulder when I lived there. I too appreciated his questions and the answers Rinpoche gave. A smart man and devoted student Chendobre, Tomek!
I have listened to the Seminaries with Tomeks questions and interactions many times.
They really show how a genuine heart can access , and connect with a teacher very quickly, and authentically. The Vidyadhara really had time for him, and the humourous dialogues clearly helped all those present.
How I wish I had been there!
I am saddened to hear of the passing of Tomek. I attended the 1978 Seminary where the connection between him and Trungpa Rinpoche was palpable—engaging, humorous and enlightening. After 1981, when we were living in Nova Scotia, both of us taught many Shambhala Training programs. I always felt Tomek’s support and encouragement.
In the year 2000, when Tomek’s family had moved to southern France, my son and I paid them a visit. They lived in a very old converted church, I believe. Tomek and family were amazingly hospitable and welcoming. My son Joshua celebrated his 13th birthday while we were there.
My thoughts are with Chandali and family. May the Vajra Polak continue well his journey.
