In Memory of Stephen Levine

Stephen Levine, teacher, visionary and healer, has died, with family around him, in his home in New Mexico, U.S.A, on 17th January.

My first audio dharma teaching was on a set of duplicated cassette tapes, forty years ago. No digital, then. It was Stephen, his voice on those tapes – supporting people who had lost loved ones; people who were living with a terminal diagnoses; people who were participating in those workshops to support others who had such a diagnosis; and many others whose hearts were breaking – which penetrated my armour. He brought me to tears; brought me to my heart. There was no doubt in my mind about his compassion and his courage. His tender voice is still in my memory.

In those workshops he supported them all to stay for their pain – physical, mental, emotional – and, most of all, to stay for what is. He encouraged us to have faith in the more that we are, to have faith in what holds us, as we hold others in the human pains of sickness, mental affliction, old age and death. I was one of those desperately in need of healing, then, and Stephen’s voice on those tapes encouraged me, too. Even the silent presence of his wife Ondrea in those workshops was a great support.

Of course, over the years I used his meditations, published in several books, for myself, and to guide others. I credit the wisdom which I manage to bring to my marriage to the fact that I read his Embracing the Beloved. I believe it contributed to finally being able to stay and learn the lessons which marriage can teach; particularly to embrace the dissolution of my narcissism. That’s been working for twenty years in my present, vibrant relationship.

Then, of course, back in 1999, I did my first ‘Year to Live.’ I ‘died’ as 2000 rang in. Oh, wow! That has been a life-changer! Allowing for a ”year off’ (as if one could have a year off from death!), I’ve practiced it for at least ten of the last sixteen years.

Decades later I still regularly. “soften the belly.” There’s hardly a month go by, without I encourage another with Stephen’s phrase, “a soft belly.” I still touch “a heart big enough to hold it all,” in the ways I learned from Stephen. Deep bows to someone whom I never met personally, but I must count as important among my teachers. Deep bows, too, to his beloved partner in all his work Ondrea, who is still with us.

Thank you Stephen. May all the Stephen elements in the universe, those elements in all of us, flourish in wisdom and love.