Ocean of Dharma Conference Opens

More than 600 people gathered at the Nalanda campus of Naropa University last night for the opening art reception (students of Chogyam Trungpa showed their art) and keynote address by Diana J. Mukpo. The full audio and a good description of the keynote is available at www.chronicleproject.com. Click on the Ocean of Dharma conference button. There will be continuing coverage of the conference at that site. Following the opening remarks by Board Chair Martin Janowitz and President Tom Coburn, Lady Diana gave a powerful and bold address punctuated by a lot of warmth and humor, especially in the question and answer period, which was opened by questions from Buddhist Studies Faculty member Judith Simmer Brown. Lady Diana was dressed in black and gold, which combined regal and martial spirit, both appropriate to the evening. After the keynote, Lady Diana read passages from DRAGON THUNDER and several hundred people lined up to get books signed. I excused myself around 9:30 and headed off to the party for senior students, or old dogs. About 75 Boulderittes and conference attendees shared drink, food, and a lot of talk in a remote north boulder location. Today it is snowing again. Is this a blessing or just a lot of snow? Off to have breakfast with Fabrice Midal, tonight's keynote speaker. Then on to Naropa for panels, workshops and the continuation of this fest of dharma.