It is with profound shock and sadness that we must tell you of the tragic loss of Raymond Taavel, our dear friend and co-worker. Raymond was the Assistant Circulation manager for both the Shambhala Sun and Buddhadharma. We were blessed to have his presence, expertise and uncommon warmth in our lives for some twelve years.
Raymond, who was a dedicated LGBT rights activist, was murdered outside a club here in Halifax in the early hours of April 17; he was attacked after intervening to try to stop an assault. (Raymond had been attacked before, and bravely wrote about it in the local LGBT paper, Wayves, of which he was a contributing editor.) A suspect was soon taken into custody and arraigned and charged with second-degree murder.
Raymond was always joyful, always hopeful, always fair. We will be closing our offices shortly to reflect on the life of our dear friend.
Intense saddness by this horrid act. May he RIP.
I am so incredibly sorry to hear of this senseless loss. My thoughts and prayers will be with all of you and his family.
I am so sorry. So very tragic.
Truth, beauty and openness are often targets for the darkest impulses. My heartfelt condolences to your wonderful and loving community. Peace and light be to Raymond. In closeness, John Bush
I am so deeply sorry to learn of the loss of your dear friend and colleague…blessings and peace to all. Tara
Dear my friend,
death is not an end of a journey, i hope ur friend will always be blessed in his next life. .
So tragic, sad and senseless.
May he rest in, and may you all breathe, peace…
This is such a terrible event and story. According to the CBC not only was it a hate crime (the alleged suspect is said to have used anti-gay slurs during the attack) but the alleged perpetrator suffers from severe, violent mental illness and was out on an unsupervised day pass (for reasons I simply can't fathom).
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/story/2…
I know my first response to this all is anger and wanting to strike back at the person who did this. But I know that's not the right thing to do. But I struggle with what is the right thing.
Perhaps you could try to make some good come of this (and honor his memory) by writing something about how to mindfully and positively deal with something like this as Buddhists?
I know I for one would benefit from it.
My deepest sympathies to everyone for this terrible loss.
Hi Julian,
I know how you feel, and I suspect many others share your experience. We are human, and when a terrible event like this happens to someone who is kind and good, it's natural to feel angry at the person who did it.
Then the Buddhist side kicks in and we are reminded that we are supposed to be compassionate, not just for some, but for everyone. Initially we have profound and deep sadness for the loss of this beautiful man who was so good, and whose heart and spirit touched so many people.
We are also feel empathy for the companion who was with him and the trauma he experienced. It will take him a long time to recover from this, and although he'll never completely recover from it, in time he'll be able to return to live his life with support from family and friends.
We are experience profound sadness for the impact that Raymond's death is going to have on his family and friends. Those who are left behind will continue to experience the pain of this loss for a long time to come.
But if we are willing to connect with what the dharma has taught us, then we know that we can also be compassionate for the person who committed this terrible act. We don't know his mind, but somewhere deep down inside, he too has basic goodness. We may not be able to see it, but it's there somewhere. Maybe his life circumstances have brought him to this place of confusion. Maybe he was abused or bullied. We just don't know.
Two recent scientific studies concluded that people who express the most extreme and virulent forms of homophobic behavior are most likely closeted homosexuals who hate themselves so much for who they are that they take it out on others because they can't stand seeing themselves.
Also, if the killer was truly suffering from schizophrenia, then we can have compassion for his struggle with a severe mental illness, and that he wasn't, for whatever reason, able to get the help he needed which might have prevented this horrible act.
We can also have compassion for the family and friends of the murderer, because their lives will also be forever changed by this. When several Amish schoolgirls were murdered by a man from within the Amish community, the families of the victims prepared meals and delivered them to the family of the murderer as a gesture of kindness. There was a recognition of community, as opposed to blame.
We might want to feel compassion for the psychiatrists who treated Raymond. They may be questioning themselves and feel either directly or indirectly responsible for the actions of their patient, or guilt that they weren't able to prevent this from happening.
Finally, we can feel compassion for the Shambhala community, for this is exactly the kind of situation that causes us to question our beliefs about compassion, love, anger, hate, fear, sadness, and emptiness.
As sad as this event is on so many levels, it offers an opportunity for reflection and to look deep inside ourselves as we try to understand the innate sadness of the human condition.
I am very sorry to hear of Raymond's death. Adam Kahane
From one magazine professional to another, my heart goes out to you all and his family. Terrible news.
So sorry to hear of this loss. My thoughts are with you,
Tami
My condolences to all of Raymond's friends, colleagues, and family. What a tragic loss, and what a terrible incident.
This is not how the world should go. I am so sorry for your loss
Those of us at Karme Choling share in the loss. So sorry to hear of this happening. Be at peace, Raymond, everyone, including the perpetrator.
No words to describe this terrible crime. RIP Raymond.
May his spirit be as helpful to you as he was as a physical being.
I come from a very old fashioned place in Nova Scotia, where the word "gay" is a four letter word. When I first moved to Halifax in 1997, it was the first time I was ever knowingly exposed to homosexuality.
I moved to Halifax go to school at CompuCollege, where Raymond was a teacher at the time. Instantly classroom rumours spread about the "gay teacher". I'll admit, although Raymond was kind and very professional, the rumours combined with my stereotypical opinion of what it meant to be gay consumed my mind and it was distracting…..at first.
Only a couple months after starting school, my girlfriend and I were having drinks at Gatsby's, when were approached by Raymond and his male companion. I instantly felt awkward, never before having been exposed to this type of social interaction. Raymond knew it too. He instantly talked to me asking me if I was felt awkward and would respect my space if it was too much for me. I told him his respect was all I needed and it wash' necessary to leave the table. Raymond sat at our table we began joking and having a great evening. He was very candid and open about his lifestyle. After some time that evening I thought "What the hell am I intimidated about?!!!!!!!"
It was Raymond Taavel, who in a single night, dismissed every stereotype and misconception I had about what I thought it meant to be gay. Its because of him I opened my mind and now some of the best friends I have are gay.
I'll never forget that night. He was a great teacher, a kind person, and a strong rights activist. But most importantly to me, he helped this country bumpkin realize how wrong it is to judge people. He will be missed. My wife and I are going to miss him dearly. RIP Raymond.
Kenny, this is a moving personal story with a HUGE positive message. Thank you for explaining how it works in the real world. Who are we to judge?
I applaud your candour and feel it is fitting here to credit Mr. Taavel with your enlightenment on this matter, as you have done in your comment. Well said,sir.
Kenny, your story has struck a very deep chord in me. Thank you so much for sharing.
That is a great story. Thank you so much for telling it here.
Oh Kenny, thank you so much for sharing this story. I met Raymond at CompuCollege too! I was fortunate enough to have worked with him there for several years and shared an office with him. I also shared many a good time at Gatsby's with him and reading your story, I could see that 'silly grin' of his clearly across the table from me.
I'm sure that during his time at Compu he taught many students the same lesson. Thank you again for sharing this story.
Deep condolences. Wishing him well, as he goes on his way. Gate Gate. Parasamgate. Bodhi Svaha.
My deepest condolences to all of Raymond's friends, colleagues, and family. A tragic loss
Heartbreaking, all my love to everyone at the office, all his friends and family. Saying many prayers for Raymond.
What a tragic loss of an honourable human being who cotributed much to the wellbeing of our planet. My condolences to his family.
I am so very sorry to hear about Raymonds death. So so sad. My condolences to his family.
I am very saddened by this senseless act of violence! The world is changing for gay folk but not fast enough as people still teach there children to hate! It all starts in the home!
Warm hugs and prayers coming to the family and his co-workers!
Such a senseless act of violence. Raymond, you are in a better place now. R.I.P. God Loves All His children. Sincerely, Brian
May our sadness at this atrocious act be mitigated by the Ocean of Compassion which lies beyond Life & Death
I worked with Raymond at Wayves magazine when I first moved to Halifax from the States, and he helped me get a job with the Shambhala Sun, which was one of the best experiences of my working life. Knowing and working with him was always fun, always a pleasure–he was so kind and goofy and so involved with people and causes. His death is tragic, and my heart is with the Halifax community, his friends, and his coworkers.
Very sorry for your loss at the Shambhala Sun. Sending love and peace to all souls touched by this tragedy.
This was such a senseless act of violence. It has stolen from everyone who has taken the time to reflect on such a terrible event.. My heartfelt condolences to Raymond's family, friends, and colleagues..such a loss to our community. Sending much love to you, Raymond.
~Kathleen
My thoughts and prayers are for his family and friends. I had a dear friend murdered 10 years ago and it is a life changing experience. Dying is one thing, murder, another. From what I have read it sounds like Raymond was an incredible human being who gave so much to others, He will reamin in my prayers.
Sonam
I was deeply saddened to hear of such a tragic event. Raymond is in our hearts and minds here at Gampo Abbey.
I have never met him, but based on what I have read of his life, he sounds like a truly remarkable and compassionate individual. Sincerest condolences to his family and friends, and to all those who knew and loved him.
I, and all of us here at DharmaCrafts are both horrified and deeply sad. We've worked with Raymond for several years. Really, we're speechless. Sending Metta to you all.
I never met this man, but my eyes are full of tears. For him, his family, his friends, and the tormented man who killed him.
I am so sorry for this awful loss. Deepest condolences.
I hope you’ll put Kenny Marsters’ comment/story in one or both magazines, as it is important and helpful on many levels.
As an American, I always imagined that Canada was very liberal.
We’ve got to question our thoughts…
I share the sorrow of the Raymond’s family, his partner, the lgbt community, and the global sangha.
May all those close to Raymond have deep well being
Ditto for publishing Craig Sonnenberg’s eloquent, skillful, comforting comment. Buddha nature – buddha mind clearly expressed.
My thoughts are with his family during this terrible time. Rest in Peace.
my heart is heavy for those who love raymond, for those of us who never had to opportunity to know and love raymond, and for the man, and his loved ones, who now live with the consequences of this tragic event.
compassion for all, including myself..
I am so sorry to hear of this tragedy. My heart goes out to all who he leaves behind.
Very tragic and sorrowful. My condolences to everyone connected to Raymond 🙁
I feel unspeakably sad for the person who committed this terrible difficult karma. I suspect you will find that this person was out on the street and not being cared for because of a lack of money – and will- to take care of those with mental illness. I hope the halifax community find a way to take better care of those who suffer and cause more suffering. May your hearts open even to this man.
deep sympathy in this senseless bestial tragedy
With sadness at the passing of a man who gave all in following the principles he lived…In hope that his example of following his path and commitment will inspire us all to protect others… My sincere condolences to those whose life he touched.
Raymond, All thank you for the good work helping others.
No doubt you will continue that in a new situation.
See ya later.