Sunyata Saraswati’s life was celebrated at his memorial, Thursday, September 4, 2014, just one day before his birthday. It was a wonderful day honoring a beautiful, helpful soul, who truly expanded in his last years in Florida, until he merged with the source we all come from.

Everyone attending participated in making a beautiful memorial: from setting up the spaces upstairs and downstairs, creating the altars, making pot-luck food and refreshment tables, and decorating the dining area and the urn area.

The urn was set up as he requested, on a six-pointed, red star, with candles on each point of the star. Friends, family, and students gathered in the downstairs urn room meditating until the rites began.

Various mantras were chanted as they came in. Then a passage was read from Thich Nhat Hahn. According to his wishes, mantras were chanted while everyone circled around the urn. Afterwards, participants sat in meditation, then as he liked to do at end of class, “Om on home”.

A movement practice and singing practice honoring him was beautifully performed. The rest of the day was spent socializing, meditating, singing, and remembering an honored father, teacher, friend, guide, and Heavenly Dragon.