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death and DYING“Now is an excellenttime to remember yourDharma name—TrueMountain of Goodness,right? There is so muchto recall, David, greatfields of goodness.”until the phone rang around 8:00 a.m. Our Dharma teachers, PeggyRowe (True Original Source) and Larry Ward (True Great Sound)were calling to check on us. I told them what had been going on.Larry asked to speak with David.“David, how are you today? Are you getting enough rest?”He asked.“I’m miserable,” said David. “I’ve messed it all up.”“Understood,” Larry replied. “Okay now, David. Now is anexcellent time to remember your Dharma name—True Mountainof Goodness, right? David, your practice is to bring to mind, tofocus on the thoughts, the words, the actions of yours that havebrought goodness. There is so much to recall, David, great fieldsof goodness. And you know that, man. Dwell on that. And dwell,too, on the goodness that has come to you. This is the time forthat, okay?”“Got it. Right,” David said. Then Peggy came on the line.“Remember, David, how much we love you. Your Sangha, yourfriends, we are with you. You’re doing a great job with this journey.”David smiled.Watching David in the moments just after that phone callwas like watching a sunrise. He gently allowed his consciousnessto shift, letting light come in. I saw him surrender to the force ofbright, positive consciousness. As he focused on his breathing, Iquietly busied myself, making ready for the day. His mood brightenedslowly as he continued the beautiful work.After a while we knew it was time to close this ritual time.With David’s blessing, I opened the bedroom door to the garden,turned on the fan, burned sage, invited our small bell, sprinkledlemon and lavender—all to help the night’s sad energy depart.David lived several weeks after this event, yet he never againvoiced a single regret. Later that day, in a moment of sweet attentionso characteristic of him, he caught my eye and simply said,“You’re a good wife.”Our spiritual names come from a well of knowing deeper thanany person or group, and they bless us in times of need. On thatmorning, True Mountain of Goodness surrendered to the humanexperience of regret, released it, and embraced the boundlessgoodness of his being. I continue to live in gratitude that Davidhad a Sangha and a practicethat enabled his transition tobe so beautiful.Patricia Webb, True Mountainof Action, sits with PrairieWind Sangha of OklahomaCity. She is a writer andartist, and has been amember of the Order ofInterbeing since 2005.36 Winter/Spring 2010photo by Paul Davis