With sadness we at Gampo Abbey must let you know that, after a long and courageous struggle with COPD (emphysema), our beloved senior monastic Ani Tsultrim Palmo passed away yesterday, October 19 at 11:52 am Atlantic Time. During her last few days in hospital in Cheticamp, NS, not far from Gampo Abbey, she was attended to with great care by the staff there, many of whom have known her for several years. She was also wakefully accompanied 24 hours a day by the residents of Gampo Abbey and by other sangha members who live in the area. She was surrounded at all times by the love and care of all of us at Gampo Abbey and the larger sangha, her family. At the moment of her passing she was listening to the voice of her beloved sister in the dharma and teacher, Ani Pema Chodron, who had recorded the Tibetan Book of the Dead in preparation for this day.The community will practice in the presence of Ani Palmo's body in the main shrine room at Gampo Abbey in the coming days. A sukhavati will be held on Friday, October 22, at 10 am Atlantic Time. Those in the area are welcome to attend. If you plan to attend the sukhavati, please let our office know so we can plan for seating arrangements. The office phone is (902) 224-2752 and email is office@gampoabbey.org.
With love and great appreciation for all of you,
Your friends at Gampo Abbey
Dear friends,
ReplyDeleteReceive my sympathy and I'll keep in tune with you, during the rituals of Ani Palmo´s funeral.
All my love to all of you, unforgettable for me *I still can feel the power of the retreat in Gampo Abbey in my daily life... and Ani Palmo´s sweetness in my heart.
Adriana Thomaz (UNKO) from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
I'm so sorry to hear that we have lost Ani Palmo. I have so many fond memories of her - having tea and chocolate in her cabin, hearing her infectious laughter as well as her stern voice telling us to push the chairs back against the tables!, seeing her sadness and bravery when she lost her own mother, the way she shone and sparkled when she was teaching.
ReplyDeleteMostly the laughter. And the chocolate.
We were so lucky to have her as long as we did. Thanks to all who offered their presence to her during her life here, especially in this last phase.
And thank you Ani Palmo for sharing yourself so fully with all of us. I'll miss you.
Marilyn Harper
Tatamagouche NS
(former GA resident)
Dear Friends in the Dharma,
ReplyDeleteIm with you through this time of grief and release. Our Sweet Ani Palmo has finally been released from her struggle. May she soar high like the eagle! Now she is free!
Ill sit with you during sukhavati, and Ill keep her in my heart and thoughts always.
With love and gratitude to a Dear friend & teacher; Ani Tsultrim Palmo.
Heart to Heart,
Ani Chimey Lhatso (former GA resident Rinchen)
Travelling the world
I sent a longer version of this to Ani Palmo, two weeks before she died. It has been a great fortune to have known her and loved her.
ReplyDelete=========
Dear Ani Palmo,
You have been on my mind frequently. I wonder how you are doing with your emphysema. I look at the picture you sent me, and I feel very tender and grateful.
One of my favorite stories is about your giving me my first meditation instruction. My wife and I were visiting our son, Gabe, who was doing work study at the Abbey. Besides the meditation instruction, you offered us the opportunity to participate in the Abbey’s daily schedule. Something magical happened for me at Gampo. My eyes said this place looks strange, but intriguing. My heart said this is the real deal - what my heart had been yearning for without my knowing it. So when I got home, I connected up with the local Shambhala Center.
Also, you were especially helpful in counseling about how to use practice in working with the situation of my mother’s rapid decline and death. You suggested some practices, which I did on the plane from LA to NY on the way to my mother’s funeral. When we arrived, my heart and mind were more open and at peace. I decided to take communion since my mother dearly loved this practice. As I did, suddenly I felt my heart connect to communion; I felt like I could understand why it meant so much to my mother, and I was very happy that she had this in her life and death. Staying open was essential. I had no idea at the time that that was a key factor in the richness of this moment.
You were the first person in our lineage that I received teachings from. Now I’m doing some teaching, meditation instruction, ADing, and so on. I feel embedded in the flow of the lineage. I feel fortunate that I can be of more benefit to more people.
Guess what I’m trying to say is Thank You. Your caring and skillfulness planted a seed that has continued to grow. FYI, my son, Gabe finished Vajrayana Seminary this summer at SMC, and is happily working on his Rigden Ngondro. He is living in Marpa House, and working as receptionist and admin. asst. at Boulder Shambhala Center. We enjoy practicing together, and continue to work to open to the vastness of Basic Goodness. Habits of basic badness fall away slowly. Our practice is just what Doctor Buddha/ Chogyam Trungpa/ Sakyong Mipham ordered.
Wishing you great warriorship in the inbetween,
With love and appreciation,
Christopher OHare
Thank you, Chris and everyone, for these beautiful memories and reflections on Ani Palmo's life. FYI, the Chronicle Project has put up a tribute page to Ani Palmo here:
ReplyDeletehttp://chronicleproject.com/stories_235.html
If you would like to consider contributing to that page, you can send your reflections to: content@chronicleproject.com.
With appreciation,
Your friends at Gampo Abbey
I just received word of Ani Palmo's passing. During the time I spent at Gampo Abbey I was deeply touched by her expansive mind and heart. I will miss her. We will do a memorial ceremony here at the Austin Zen Center.
ReplyDeleteDeep bows,
Kosho McCall