Lord Nelson

Diana Mukpo spoke and read from Dragon Thunder: My Life with Chogyam
Trungpa in the Regency Room of the Lord Nelson Hotel in downtown Halifax on
Thursday evening, November 2nd. The Lord Nelson is the hotel in Halifax
where Chogyam Trungpa stayed in 1977 during his first, exploratory visit to
Nova Scotia, and he gave several public talks in this very room in the 70s
and 80s. It seemed uniquely appropriate for the Canadian launch of Diana's
memoirs. The crowd was slow to assemble, in best Shambhalian fashion, but
by 7:30, when Lady Diana arrived, there were about 200 people there to hear
her read. She chose a black velvet jacket and a filmy black and white skirt
with pointed, elegant heels that I felt should transport you somewhere
special if you clicked them together. Instead of Oz, perhaps Shambhala?
Melvin McLeod introduced Diana, or Mrs. Mukpo as he referred to her
throughout his remarks. Melvin was deeply appreciative, slightly formal,
and to the point, as he spoke about how the student teacher relationship is
always a spiritual love affair, if devotion is genuine. Therefore, how
appropriate to hear about the love affair between Rinpoche and his wife,
also his student. The space in Halifax was relaxed, intimate, personal,
like a family gathering. Diana responded by being relaxed, intimate and
personal in her remarks and in the answers to questions that were quite
direct yet never aggressive. This was the first time I saw her really laugh
during the tour. Following the reading, a line stretched across the room
next door, people waiting to get a book signed in the space we had arranged
for a reception. Diana took a lot of time with each person. At one point,
the staff from Frog Hollow Books, who co-sponsored the event with the
Halifax Shambhala Centre, were discussing how authors generally move
quickly through their signings. One staff member compared Diana to Timothy
Findley, who took his time. Tonight on to another event: the Halifax
consultation on the Chogyam Trungpa Legacy Project. 7 pm at the Halifax
Shambhala Centre.