Over the winter I got to know a lovely young man at Vajra Vidya retreat center in Crestone. He was the kind of man that would make any mother proud: polite and charming, always ready to help out with smile or good-natured joke. He would make a girlfriend proud: handsome, strong and athletic, intelligent and sensitive. He made his teacher proud: a devoted, diligent and disciplined student, humble and stable-minded. A remarkably mature 28, he took temporary monastic vows during the time he spent at the center practicing prostrations. When we parted ways a few weeks ago, we looked forward to the next time we would meet.
Cortland died last Friday. Within 48 hours of being admitted to the hospital for some mysterious reason. We don’t know why.
Please say a prayer for this gentle young man on his journey, and appreciate those around you every moment, because we never know when it might be our last.
Om Ami Dewa Hri
Diary of a Pilgrim 