Damayonti was our friend, daughter, sister, mentor, and more. We mourn her passing and hope that by sharing stories of her life and her indomitable spirit, her light will continue to shine in our hearts.
If you have photos of Damayonti that you would like to share, please upload them to this shared google photo album.
Damayonti’s friend Nirzhar made a touching slide show for her memorial. To view the slide show, click here. (Right click and choose ‘Save’ or ‘Download Linked File’ if you would like to save a copy of the slide show on your device.)
23 entries.
Love and full soft smiles and hugs. Singing the work songs in the kitchen with joy.
When I think of Damayonti, I always think of how sparkly she is—energetic, fun, and a little mischievous. We were roommates at many programs from San Antonio to Seattle to Nepal. We would stay up late talking about all sorts of things, eating and laughing. We became leaders at the same time at Nalandabodhi and supported each other's work. Without her counsel, I now ask myself, "What would Damayonti say or do?"
All of us are so grateful for her magnificent helpfulness and kindness.
Our glorious Sangha Sister, Damayonti is on a very Precious Journey for her and all.
Those of us who were on Pilgrimages with her are so delighted by her Fun with us all.
She is so bright, diligent and radiant.
Lucky Sangha Sister,
R Lynn
Our glorious Sangha Sister, Damayonti is on a very Precious Journey for her and all.
Those of us who were on Pilgrimages with her are so delighted by her Fun with us all.
She is so bright, diligent and radiant.
Lucky Sangha Sister,
R Lynn
Damayonti truly embodied joyful lovingkindness, living her Dharma practice daily and embracing everyone she encountered. She was a True Human Being.
"Radiant, joyful one
Embracing all encountered
Your Heart living on...."
Love you, Dharma sister, always!
"Radiant, joyful one
Embracing all encountered
Your Heart living on...."
Love you, Dharma sister, always!
I met Damayonti at Winter Retreat 2018 and then was lucky enough to spend an evening and most of the next day with her when she visited Nalandabodhi Philadelphia in January, 2019. She seemed fully engaged with whomever she was interacting with – advising and laughing with adults, playing with kids and protecting a butterfly.
After learning of her cancer diagnosis, I sent her a small card. Though it did not require a response, I heard from Damayonti a few months later, telling me that she had been thinking of me recently, because my card had become a bookmark. This triggered a few more email exchanges filled with warmth and kindness.
In the note that Damayonti left for the sangha, I was struck by the following sentence: "Prepare your life to gather love around you and leave the trace of love following you." It feels like whether we knew Damayonti for a long or short time, she certainly left traces of love for us.
After learning of her cancer diagnosis, I sent her a small card. Though it did not require a response, I heard from Damayonti a few months later, telling me that she had been thinking of me recently, because my card had become a bookmark. This triggered a few more email exchanges filled with warmth and kindness.
In the note that Damayonti left for the sangha, I was struck by the following sentence: "Prepare your life to gather love around you and leave the trace of love following you." It feels like whether we knew Damayonti for a long or short time, she certainly left traces of love for us.
When I think of Damayonti, big bursts of happy memories come jumping out. What is common to all these memories is her sparkling eyes and smile, and a firm, peaceful presence. When I first met Damayonti in 2006 at a retreat, I thought, "She really gets it." Of course, how would I know? But that was my first impression, and over the years, my admiration for her only grew. As I got to know Damayonti better, as we worked on projects for Nalanda West or practiced together, her steady kindness and patience constantly inspired me. I marveled at her steadiness, her willingness to take on big challenges, to step up and chip in. She worked diligently, accomplishing so much, and yet her dancing playfulness was always there, brightening up the room, making everyone laugh and feel included. Damayonti has left the vivid imprint of these beautiful qualities on so many hearts. When I think of her exuberant smile, I feel a bright love and warmth. Then I smile too, remembering her generosity of spirit.
I was blessed to stay with Damayonti while attending my very first Sangha retreat in 2008. I was a newbie and she welcomed me fully with her wonderful zest and ease. The night before I left to return to Canada, we shared many stories of our lives, and we stayed in touch - at retreats, through email and, most recently, when she visited Toronto in 2018. Whenever I talked with her, bubbles of joy filled me. Her gifts will continue to touch many. May Damayonti travel well, and may her family have solace.
I knew Damayonti as Damster, her nickname when she served PC N172 in Nepal from 1991-1993. We trained together, served together, laughed together and loved music together. The perpetual dancer and fun loving Damster always brought life to the party!! Miss and love you.
Dami and I traded advice on clothing and good restaurants! She would come to my Costume classes at Cornish and show students how to wrap and fold a proper sari. I would go wedding dress shopping with her and on excursions to "find her a style befitting her job" (as if she needed my help in such a thing!)
I cherish the dozen of meals together and genuine conversations containing anything and everything! There are so many things I love and value about Dami, but most particular is her unapologetic authenticity.
I cherish the dozen of meals together and genuine conversations containing anything and everything! There are so many things I love and value about Dami, but most particular is her unapologetic authenticity.
During the 2015 Sangha Retreat, we celebrated Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche's 50th birthday and I shared how our teacher had always been there for me during a series of failed love stories. The following day, Damayonti offered me a card as a token of understanding, friendship and humor. I treasure it to this day, and it reads: "After years of disappointing relationships, she finally decided to go out with her breath". Although we did not spend a lot of time together, she left an imprint of kindness and wisdom in my heart.
Damayonti was an incredible mentor, friend and dharma sister. I'm very grateful to have known her and worked with her on the Karmapa Center 16 project and to have practiced together at Nalandabodhi. I rejoice at the great merit she generated in her life for the benefit of all sentient beings!
Some of my favorite times with Damayonti were when she was preparing to travel. She had a busy schedule but she always made time to spend together and one of the ways she did that with me was to hang out while she was packing for a trip. We’d have a glass of wine, catch up, choose what clothes to pack and laugh while we tried to figure out how to get it all in the suitcase.
Damayonti was the kind of person who on a trip to Africa in recent years brought with her donations for a local orphanage, raised money while there for same and went around to schools teaching kids to dance and meditate and have positive self esteem. Did she do this as part of a humanitarian aid organization or in some professional capacity? No my friends, she did this out of the vastness of her heart while on vacation.
Damayonti - memories of you are filling my heart and mind in the form of a kaleidoscope of the brilliant joy, pristine awareness, loving kindness, unrelenting generosity and devotion that you so steadfastly embodied and shared with the world.
In love and gratitude, may you be born in Sukhavati xoxo
In love and gratitude, may you be born in Sukhavati xoxo
I had a wonderful opportunity to spend time with Damayonti at a recent Nitartha Institute. We talked about the Karmapa 16 project, practice, and her visit to Africa. Damayonti was glowing as usual!
I recall visiting Damayonti in her apartment; she needed help with some chores, cleaning and mopping. As I vacuumed around her, she picked up each of her 21 Taras and dusted them with a small brush. Such a small action on the one hand, but filled with the attentiveness and care with which Damayonti approached practice of all kinds.
There is so much to share about my mutual experiences with Damayonti—where to begin? I think the first time we really talked in earnest was during the first Canada Open Retreat, which was hosted at some kind of kids summer camp outside of Toronto. I don't know how we got on the topic, but we were talking about big hair (and how much I admired her big hair and wished mine would do that naturally too) and how we both enjoyed a goth lifestyle in our youths, lol. Very appropriate conversation for a buddhist retreat. Damayonti was one of the rare few whom I could bond with over ordinary common interests as well as profound spiritual experiences. I will miss her dearly.
For many Sangha Retreats and many Tara Drupchens me and Julia stayed at Damayontis place sleeping on her couch and we had so much fun. She would insist we go to the early morning sessions every day and in the evenings we would drink wine and share dharma stories laughing and giggling the whole time. My memory of Damayonti is how she was always so kind, humorous devoted, smart and amazingly diligent.
"I want to take training to be a practice instructor so that I can help others." I remember that when Damayonti said it, her words described her perfectly. The first thing that came to her mind was wanting to help others. How beautiful she was, inside and out. What lovely memories she has left us to fill her place in this life.
I remember when I first starting working with Damayonti as a program coordinator. She always insisted that we start our meetings with a work song. I remember singing off key and being so embarrassed. But I grew to love those songs because they remind me of her.
Of admiration: She always greeted everyone with her wonderful smile, radiating love and kindness... No matter how busy or tired, she was shinning and radiating her love.
The summer Damayonti lived with us, she rediscovered a love of cherry Jello (with blueberries!) and Cool Whip on the Fourth of July.
One day in the Nalanda West kitchen, I called Damayonti “DD” instead of Damayonti. To me, it made sense because D is her initial and two D’s are better than one (and nicknames are a Filipino habit). To my surprise, she told me that in Bengali “didi” means big sister. And for many reasons, Damayonti was like the older sister I never had.