Sukhavati to Honor Leslie Fiack: Dear Friend & Dedicated Practitioner
Dear Sangha and Friends,
It is with both sadness and appreciation for a full and well-lived life that I the share the news of Leslie Fiack’s passing. Leslie died peacefully shortly after midnight on Tuesday, January 30th from complications of Alzheimer’s at a care home in Centennial where she had been living. In her last few days of life, Leslie was surrounded by the love of her husband, Dave, sangha members and friends, and caregivers who knew her well. She went gently, in her own time.
Leslie was a loyal and committed Dorje Kasung and Werma practitioner. She served as Rusung in Denver for many years and was known to organize the space and people of the Denver Shambhala Center in a kind and efficient way. Leslie was a nurse by profession, a wife and mother of two sons. She will be dearly missed.
The Denver Center will hold a Sukhavati for Leslie at 4:00pm on Sunday, February 4, 2018. All are welcome to join us in honoring the life of our fearless and gentle fellow warrior, Leslie Fiack, and to offer blessings for her journey.
Please hold Leslie and her husband Dave and their sons in your practice. Tonglen practice is often recommended, but there is no one set way to do prayers for someone who has died. Having a calm mind and doing any type of dharma practice, then dedicating the merit to that person while making aspirations for them is a wonderful expression of support.
May the impact of Leslie’s life with all its moments of bravery, kindness, challenge, wisdom, humor and joy continue to be of benefit to all beings.
Yours in the Vision of the Great Eastern Sun,
Jennifer Yarbro
A Ceremony of Sukhavati will be held at
4:00pm on Sunday, February 4, 2018,
Shambhala Meditation Center of Denver
2305 S Syracuse Way, Denver, CO 80231
The Ceremony of Sukhavati is a Tibetan Buddhist funeral service. It is typically performed soon after someone dies. Friends, family and sangha (spiritual community) gather together to celebrate the life of Leslie and offer blessings for her after death journey.
The ceremony is brief and consists of the following:
- I. Short Meditation (10 minutes)
- II. Introduction (celebration of life and death, explanation of Buddhist view of death)
- III. Invitation for people to speak about deceased and/or eulogy
- IV. Reading of Sukhavati chant and burning of the photograph.
The ceremony will be followed by a reception, sharing food and drink, stories, support and appreciation. Non-Buddhist friends and family members are invited to participate in the ceremony and celebration in whatever way feels comfortable to them. The important thing is to send off the person who has died with love, confidence and positive aspirations.
