who in ways I do and do not understand is spiritual godfather to this book, and who continues to teach me from beyond the grave
for Martín Prechtel,
who gave me a hand down into the well of ecstatic memory
and showed me an earth big enough to hold my grief
for Walter Nowick,
who first pinched my ass so many decades ago
for Sifu Sheng-yen,
who said the word “Relinquish” at just the right moment
for Sant Ajaib Singh Ji Maharaj,
who graciously drew me into his Body of Light
for Alexandra,
and the divine family gifted us in this earthly cycle
and for Joey