The Blanket of Blessings & the Lama

     When I first met Lama Gyatso in his home in Los Angeles April 2004, I knew with complete certainty that my search for an authentic spiritual teacher was over. After taking refuge (vows) from him, I went home an did what every country girl does  when they love someone: I crocheted him a burgundy and cream afghan (blanket).( I knew nothing about Tibetan customs!) Through the years, the afghan would be on his lap while he gave teachings from his seat in the shrine room.
     Lama Chodak Gayatso Nubpa left this Earth last fall. Lama told me before he left, "Don't worry, you will always be in my Mindstream, no matter what."
I believe him.
     This year has been very difficult as my illness, CFS/ME, has been wreaking havoc on my body. I have become 90% housebound, and very weak. I was going through a disheartening period this summer. In early August, my friend, artist Teresa Mill called me. She said she knew I was having a hard time with my illness and insomnia during the nights, but that she had something that may help me. She arrived at my home with a blanket and some photos. She handed me the photos: they were of my beloved Lama on Coronado Beach, here in San Diego! She explained that she had attended a sand mandala ceremony that he had performed at the beach, sometime in the early or mid-1990's.
     Teresa and I met in 2002, in the San Diego art scene. After I had connected with Lama Gyatso in 2004, she told me how she had met him at a sand mandala ceremony in San Diego.
What she didn't tell me was this: during the ceremony on the beach, Lama Gyatso had become cold. She had given him her blanket and he wrapped himself in it. After the ceremony, the blanket was handed back to her. An attendant told her to take care of the blanket, because it was now an artifact holding many blessings.  Teresa kept the blanket, and did not see Lama Gyatso again.
    Teresa gave me this very blanket , knowing how much I love my Lama. She wanted this blanket to comfort me.  This is when I told her, "The first thing I did for Lama, after accepting him as my teacher, was hand crochet him a blanket." We both laughed at the wonder of it: two blankets ,two friends, many years.... and I know I am still in his Mindstream.
     Thank you, Teresa, for a beautiful act of compassion and being part of a story filled with blessings.

*The above photo is of Lama, with our primary teaching text, on the blanket of blessings.
*Please see a sample of Teresa's beautiful art here.