A Day Of Practice for Lopön Peter Lieberson

Prepared by: Lotus Garden News Staff
Published: 19 May 2011

Photo Credit: Jetsun Dechen Paldron and practitioners gather for a group photo joined by animal friends Mr. Murphy, Lady Alice (behind chair), and Miss Cassie (hiding at the right)©2011 Mindrolling International, All Rights Reserved

On Saturday, May 14th, sangha members from New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington DC and Charlottesville joined with Jetsün Dechen Paldrön and the Lotus Garden residents for a day-long practice of the Vajrasattva sadhana which was offered in memory of Lopön Peter Lieberson.

Sangha members in Sante Fe, Milwaukee and Atlanta also gathered to practice the sadhana in their cities. Lopön Rita Gross, writing of the Milwaukee gathering, reported that practitioners of the Midwest study group gathered to practice the Vajrasattva Sadhana for Peter. “It was wonderful because it had also been a long time since we had done this practice in the Midwest,” she said.

There was a special intensity to the practice at Lotus Garden that day. We also had a wonderful opportunity to reflect together upon the inner qualities that blossomed as a result of Lopön Peter’s devotion and practice of buddhadharma.

Photo Credit: Practicing the Vajrasattva sadhana
©2011 Mindrolling International, All Rights Reserved

Before the afternoon practice session, Lopön Jann Jackson offered a loving eulogy for Lopön Peter, remembering his life as a devoted practitioner, inspiring teacher and as a example of a well-trained western student.

Lopön Jann had met Peter decades earlier when she studied with him in the early days of the Shambhala mandala. Later, in 2005, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche would appoint Peter and Jann as two of six lopöns (senior teachers) at Lotus Garden.

Jann shared many stories of Peter’s life. There were stories of his accomplishments as acclaimed composer, but also the simple stories of life in dharma community. She noted Peter’s great passion for life and his strong discipline as a practitioner, neither of which he relinquished in favor of the other.

Photo Credit: Lopon Jann during the euology for Peter
©2011 Mindrolling International, All Rights Reserved

Lopön Jann took us back through time to the 1970’s when the Vidyadhara, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche one day handed Peter a text and told him simply to go out and teach it. Peter most likely requested further clarification and so the Vidyadhara added, somewhat enigmatically, that Peter should visit various dharma centers and teach the students to be ‘tidy.’ Steady and meticulous in his mindfulness and always a source of inspiration, Peter went on to teach a generation of practitioners about being uplifted, elegant, and tamed in body, speech, and mind—qualities he himself was to embody throughout his life.

During the eulogy, Lopön Jann displayed one of her old dharma notebooks which she had recently discovered in a box in her home. The notebook was very tidy, with pages and pages of tiny meticulous notes she had taken during one of Peter’s programs long ago. Jann packaged it up and immediately sent it along to the hospital where Peter was undergoing treatment. He got a real chuckle out of it, Jann reported. Mailing it back, he wrote that he was pleased that his teaching had been such a success.

Photo Credit: Photo of Lopön Peter during the practice ©2011 Mindrolling International, All Rights Reserved

Lopön Peter was handsome. He enjoyed fame as a composer and respect as a practitioner of the Buddhadharma, yet he was humble to the core, never arrogant. He embodied the finest qualities of a precious human life.

Up until his death, through sometimes very difficult circumstances, he exemplified some of the most precious teachings one could receive. He met serious illness without complaint, with humor, grace and wakefulness. He continued to compose and teach and show concern for those students in Santa Fe whom he had guided over the years. In the face of death, as in life, Lopön Peter courageously followed the command of his teacher, Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche—“Look into the eyes of whatever arises.”

As the practice day ended, a deep sense of peace descended over Lotus Garden. We had offered our deepest aspirations to the Glorious Guru Vajrasattva for our beloved vajra brother, Lopön Peter Lieberson. The final words of Lopön Jann's eulogy rang in our ears and filled our hearts.

May the Buddhas and bodhisattvas, the lineage masters protect your heart essence through the stormy winds of the bardo.

May you be liberated into the great expanse.

May your wisdom, compassion and skill radiate for the benefit of all beings throughout the three times.

May the tender melody of your life awaken longing devotion in all of us left behind.


You might also like to read:
And It Came to Pass—Not To Stay: Farewell to Lopön Peter Lieberson
(11 May 2011)