I count myself fortunate to have gotten to know Carolyn since Shambhala Publications moved to Boulder. She died far too young and her loss is great. But I wanted to share this: it is very rare indeed to see someone so collected, confident, and at ease with her situation as she was over the last couple months and right through to the end. Having had three extraordinary teachers—Chögyam Trungpa, Shibata Sensei, and now Anyen Rinpoche—Carolyn had really taken her Buddhist training to heart. As one great teacher said to me, a big part of “being a Buddhist means learning how to die professionally.” And Carolyn did just that. With her remaining energy, she was focused on others’ comfort and feelings. The last day I saw her alive, she said to me, “Everyone should be as lucky as me to have a short notice of their death so they can plan it all out.” She also referred to her circumstances—being well taken care of and having constant coaching in the dying process from her teacher—as “an embarrassment of riches.”
This is what the spiritually anchored fearlessness discussed in so many of our books really looks like. It is extremely inspiring to witness.
Carolyn leaves a legacy of superb, exemplary service to her teachers and fellow students. Her projects with Shambhala Publications, several of which are still on the way, have made an immense contribution to helping kids and adults connect with the heart and intent of the Buddha’s teachings.
•Monkey Mind Meditation Deck: 30 Fun Ways for Kids to Chill Out, Tune In, and Open Up has been a huge hit with parents and their kids this year.
•Sit with Me: Meditation for Kids in Seven Easy Steps (December 2020)
•Ashoka the Fierce: How an Angry Prince Became India’s Emperor of Peace, about the Buddhist Emperor Ashoka (2021)
•You Are a Force of Nature (tentatively titled) will empower kids to discover the awesome powers of the natural world inside themselves (2022)
But I think she was most proud of the recently submitted manuscript that she co-wrote with Allison Choying Zangmo about the importance of the role of the teacher on the spiritual path.
In this upcoming work, which we’ll publish next year, she wholeheartedly defends—and celebrates—the role of the spiritual guide, debunking the en vogue criticism so prevalent in the mire of spiritual materialism in which we operate and which we at Shambhala Publications try our best to counter. It is imbued with kindness and caring for all. It is an extremely fresh and articulate presentation of spiritual maturation, an essential part of being fully human.
Carolyn is proof that this path of devotion and appreciation works.
Wishing Carolyn a smooth journey….
Nikko Odiseos
President
Shambhala Publications | Bala Kids | Snow Lion Publications | Roost Books
