Death of Tarakarunya
Tarakarunya (‘she who is or has the compassion of Tara’)
31st August 1958 – 2nd August 2024
During the early hours of this morning, 2nd August 2024, the authentic gem who was Tarakarunya died peacefully at Garside Care Home, London. A number of sangha members had been with her on the previous evening and into the early hours, chanting her beloved Green Tara and Shakyamuni mantras, reading her favourite version of the Heart Sutra, the blessing verses and passing on messages of love to her. A beautiful shrine and flowers were at the foot of her bed, as well as some of her drawing pencils. She had a mala wrapped around each hand and her Anagarika kesa was next to her. Tarakarunya died from an aggressive and rare brain cancer, which had been diagnosed in early July. She explicitly chose an unmedicated death, leaving this realm gracefully and peacefully.
Born 31st August 1958 in Devon, Tarakarunya worked as a nurse in her ‘younger days’ (as she would say). She became a mitra at West London Buddhist Centre and was one of the long-standing sangha members there. She was ordained at Il Convento in Tuscany in 2001 by myself as both private and public preceptor.
An inspired artist, Tarakarunya’s flat was like a shrine, especially to her sadhana Green Tara, with whom she had a long-standing devotion and relationship. Many of you may have seen the imaginative and gorgeous shrines she did on retreats, especially at Taraloka and Dhanakosa, as well as at the West London Buddhist Centre.
Funeral arrangements will be forthcoming.
Om tare tutare ture svaha
