- Jul 10
- 2 min read
Our precious Dharma brother Floyd Platton passed away on the evening of July 4, 2026 — going out, fittingly, with the emphatic bursts of fireworks that lit the sky that night. It felt like a brilliant metaphor for his spiritual and philosophical journey: bold, illuminating, and impossible to ignore.
Floyd was a true seeker. His path began in his Jewish roots, studying with Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi — a teacher of vast knowledge and liberal interpretation who brought Floyd far, but not far enough, in his quest for answers. He came to TBC in 1995, just five years after the Center began, when we were still a small group of fifteen to twenty members.
Floyd took the Buddha's own advice to heart: use logic and reason, question the teacher, question the teachings, and question your own interpretations of them. His search for ultimate truth on the path to awareness was relentless, and it showed. A plethora of questions from Floyd sparked many lively — very lively! — discussions within the Sangha on Sunday mornings, especially in those early years.
As time went on, Floyd delved more deeply into the Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions, developing a special affinity for Dzogchen practice. He was a devoted and deeply loving student of his root teacher, Losang-la, and studied as well with the Khenpos at both Padmasambhava Centers, in New York and Florida, forging Dharma family connections that lasted decades. In more recent years, he found deep resonance in the teachings of Scott McBride.
Floyd's knowledge of the Dharma grew in step with his consistent commitment to daily practice, and with Losang's encouragement, he became a Senior Teacher. He shared his experience, his thoughts, and his ideas with all of us freely, always ready for an engaging debate.
His love for his wife Pat, the joy his grown children and his grandchildren gave him brought a true twinkle to his eye — one that expressed those feelings more deeply than any words he lovingly shared.
As we shared stories and memories last Sunday, one of our Sangha members aptly used this metaphor: Floyd was never one to "follow the lines on the highway."
His approach to the Dharma mirrored his passion for jazz — the music that brought him another kind of profound joy that he shared with friends on weekly emails, his old favorites and new discoveries. Start with the foundation, the melody of the song, and then take off into the ever-intriguing exploration of improvisation, searching for the chords and notes that can bring ultimate illumination and clarity. Wordless, pristine, pure.
We will miss him dearly.
Om mani padme hung.