Sangha News

8-08-10 - All our well-being prayers go out to Richard Jaffe who I've received word is seriously ill. - dc

RICHARD JAFFE is the Chair of the Department of Religion at Duke University. He received his Ph.D. in religious studies with a concentration in Buddhist studies from Yale University in 1995. Dr. Jaffe is a specialist in modern Japanese Buddhism. He is the author of Neither Monk nor Layman: Clerical Marriage in Modern Japanese Buddhism (2002) and Seeking Shakyamuni: World Travel and the Creation of Modern Japanese Buddhism (forthcoming in Japanese). Currently he is working on a book about Japanese Buddhist travel and the transformation of Buddhism in late-nineteenth century Japan. (from this page)

6-29-10 - Announcing the Abiding Senior Dharma Teacher at GGF and Reb Anderson's decision not to accept that position.

6-03-2010 - Roy Iwake, has died unexpectedly in a bicycle accident. See his cuke interview. Roy sat with Shunryu Suzuki back when we were starting Tassajara. I met again him decades later through John Tarrant who is going to write something on Roy. Johnny Thorn called this morning to let me know. Roy did wonderful, complicated origami he called cavex round folding. Johnny said Roy was going to New York to some origami event that was recognizing his work. There will be a memorial service in mid July. More here later. - dc

4-13-10 - A very good Caring Page update on Grace Dammann

10-19-09 - Congratulations to the seven members of Pacific Zen Inst. who recently received the precepts and lay ordination.

Gregory W. sends this report:

The Refuge Ceremony for the seven who took the precepts (jukai) last night during the sesshin was a wam and inspiring event. I always love to hear how the refugees (as some of us like to call ourselves) present their personal vows. Each is so unique but also so true that it's another clear example of Guanyin's many tongues that go along with the many eyes and hands.

For those who were unable to attend in person, here are the Dharma names for the newly precepted:

Marsha B. ~ Road of Kindness

Jan B. ~ Crows in the Golden Wind

Illana B. ~ Shining Tree

Mary C. ~ Night Sky

Karinka McK. ~ Flower Forrest

Ishara H. ~ Spring Valley

Thaisa F. ~ Heart Field

10-10-09 - RIP John Daido Loori who died this morning.

Bernie Glassman on John Daido Loori.

I used to listen to Daido Roshi's dharma talks at wzen.org quite a lot. He loved the same Walt Whitman poems that I did, so I felt close to him. And I loved him for being a mystic. He was a great support and encouragement for my early interest in Zen. I'm grateful for his life.

~Carol Spooner

10-08-09 - John Daido Loori is dying and messages abound to keep him in our thoughts and prayers.

10-06-09 - On the Two Year Memorial for Niels Holm with a poem and photo - by William Benz

10-05-09 - A new zendo in San Francisco

7-18-09 - More photos of Arthur Okamura and Bobo from Bill Braasch.

7-17-09 - Photos of the cremation ceremony for Arthur Okamura by Bill Braasch. More. More on Arthur

7-13-09 - Obituary for Arthur Okamura by Paul Liberatore in the Marin IJ (CA).

More on Arthur

710-09 - Arthur Okamura, Marin artist and old friend, died suddenly today in Bolinas while walking his dog. Arthur started sitting with Suzuki Roshi and received lay ordination from Baker Roshi and is known to many old-timers. He will be missed. More on Arthur.

6-23-09 - Trent Carlo Cunov with mom, Kendra Cunov and granddad David Silva who sent this photo.

Trent was born 12:05 May 20th (his exact due date), 7 lbs. 9 oz. The middle name is after David's father, last name is his mother's maiden birth name. Mary Cunov is Kendra's mom.

click on thumbnails to enlarge

Here's Kendra and Trent.

David writes: Everyone is healthy and unbelievably happy. Mary, Linda and I got to see the new family just moments after the birth. A moment that will live forever in my memory.

6-22-09 - David Silva sent this link to April photos of the Tassajara area.

"Firewood becomes ash, and it does not become firewood again. Yet, do not suppose that the ash is future and the firewood past. You should understand that firewood abides in the phenomenal expression of firewood, which fully includes past and future and is independent of past and future. Ash abides in the phenomenal expression of ash, which fully includes future and past. Just as firewood does not become firewood again after it is ash, you do not return to birth after death." Genjo Koan

6-19-09 - Grace is home

6-19-09 - In Memoriam
Jack Arthur Van Allen
October 14, 1935 - June 19, 2007

4/02/09 - Buddhist Social Activist and Nobel Peace Prize Nominee, Sulak Sivaraksa, Will Give Three Bay Area Talks April 23-25 - read all about it

3-02-09 - Lew Richmond has a new blog - Aging as a Spiritual Practice.

02-18-09 - More NOTES and photos FROM TASSAJARA from GENE DESMIDT

02/07/09 - NOTES and photos FROM TASSAJARA

from GENE DESMIDT

click thumbnail to see Gene expand

2-02-09 - Early Suzuki student Pat Herreshoff dies.

from Silas Hoadley

I was able to visit with Pat Herreshoff a few days before she died last week. Pat was at home with her son Daniel and his wife Madeline in Kingston Washington. Before moving there Pat had lived in Hawaii for many years.

She was a regular at the Bush Street zendo in the spring of 1964 when I started sitting there. She had found out about Suzuki sensei through a job connection and, in her direct way, had cold-called Alan Watts to find out how to get to the place where a real Zen master was teaching, Pat was born in San Diego Thanksgiving Day 1913 , When she was 4 her mother sent her to relatives in a small Montana town to protect her from the Influenza epidemic of that time. She stayed there till she was 8. During this visit Pat sat upright and her presence was bright. During tea she spontaneously broke out in a child hood hymn to the setting sun . She also sang a verse from "old black Joe." Her voice was strong and wonderful. She said she had learned these songs in Montana as a child. She also shared a dream of a night or two before.

Two friendly beetles had appeared in the interior vicinity of her spine. One had short legs and the other long. They had nothing much to say but gave a very good feeling as did Pat on this last visit.

I've got correspondence from Pat and some other materials but it will be a while before that surfaces. - dc

1-14-09 - Zen Rabbi Alan Lew died on Monday - JTA link

SFZC notice on Alan Lew's death

12-31-08 - Shunryu Suzuki student Fred Stoeber has died. I talked to his partner Miyo today. Continued in Sangha News. - dc

12-11-08 - An invitation from Tensho David Schneider to join with him and others who knew Philip Whalen to spend an evening sharing memories of Philip.

12-10-08 - Larry Hansen on Tim Aston's memorial service.

12-04-08 - A Seasonal Letter --- from Brother David Steindl-Rast

12-03-08 - If you happen to be in Northern California, cuke suggests you heed this invite from Barton Stone.

Stone Creek Zen Center's annual fund-raising event, Zen Fest is happening this Sunday, the 7th, 9 to 4, at the Masonic Hall, across from Safeway in Sebastopol CA. There will be crafts, silent auction, raffle, Japanese lunches, gifts, Buddhas, prayer flags and more. We always have a good time producing this event, and it provides almost a third of our lean annual budget. My part in it is to make blackberry jam from the abundant and generous Mamalanda blackberries which several of you helped to pick, and a few Buddha altars (photo below). Gratitude to you each one for being who you be with such beauty. May your best way flourish!

Larry Hansen sends this message about a ceremony for Tim Aston

The memorial will be this Saturday evening on Quadra Island. I will lead the Prajna Paramita on my old mokugio. Whoever wants can tell stories or speak from the heart. I am bringing my banjo, and with a few local musicians will play will the Circle Be Unbroken and maybe get rowdy afterwards, Tim always liked a party (remember my story about EB serving Sake in the Zendo) [I'll put that on tomorrow - dc]

If any of the old crowd wants to e-mail me with a story or poem, I’d be happy to include it. I don’t think Silas can make it, I have told him, and Bill Benz in Portland. I will be sitting with Silas mid December in Pt Townsend.

If anyone wants to know where this memorial is, email me and I'll give you Larry's cell phone # - dchad3[at]sonic[dot]net.

12-02-08 - Suzuki student Tim Aston has died. Gyate gyate Tim, one of the originals at Tassajara, a great guy, a hard worker. Received this note from Larry Hanson.

I am very sad to report the death of Tim Aston. He succumbed to a heart attack last Thursday, he was 66. His wife Jean, and children Mellisa, Ramona, and Gabe are on Quadra Island. We will have a memorial for him on Saturday.

Yours with radiant gratitude

Larry Hansen

11-15-08 - Terrific slideshow on the Monterrey Peninsula Herald's web site called Protecting Tassajara - with narration. - thanks to my sis Susan. See Tass 08 Fire.

11-11-08 - A message from our worthy friends at the Chapel Hill ZC, the only Soto Zen temple of Suzuki Roshi’s lineage in the southeastern United States.

11-01-08 - Visit Grace Dammann's Caringbridge site and read her wonderful Halloween message and send her a note. Grace is the doctor who lives at Green Gulch and had a terrible accident on the Golden Gate Bridge a few months ago.

10-09-08 - Notes on the results of the recent fire that threatened Tassajara

- filed in the Tass 08 Fire Dept

9-28-08 - A message from Nonin Chowaney of the Nebraska Zen Center about his condition. Heal quickly dear friend!9-17-08 - Photos of Tassajara after the fire by Shundo David Haye - more from him and others to come. Please pardon my tardiness. Filed in Tassajara Fire '08 - dc

Hooray for the Tassajara Five! Tass Fire 08

L to R: Graham Ross, Mako Voelkel, David Zimmerman, Steve Stucky, Colin Gipson

7-15-08 - from Firefighter Blog: Tassajara "Fire Monks" Story Remains Untold

7-14-08- Read Tassajara Director David Zimmerman's report.

7-13-08 - Tassajara fire update

7-06-08 - Michael Sawyer's funeral was held on

Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 3 p.m.

at Green Gulch Farm

Family and friends celebrated and grieved the passing of a beloved brother, husband, father, monk, painter, and inspirational spiritual friend who passed away with his loved ones present at home at Green Gulch Farm on June 5 2008. See his amazing art featured with an article in the latest Tricycle. More below.

6-14-08 - Michael Sawyer's 's funeral will be on Sunday, July 6, 2008 at 3 p.m at Green Gulch Farm. (Call 415-354-0411 for directions)

Elizabeth Sawyer says, "Near or far, we will all be together at this time celebrating Michael."

If you wish to make a donation in his memory, please do so to Green Gulch Farm.

6-09-08 - Michael Sawyer to be cremated today. Tomorrow night a service for him at the Back Porch Zendo in Occidental. See notice from Elizabeth Sawyer. - Michael Sawyer's amazing art featured with an article in the latest Tricycle

6-05-08 - Michael Sawyer died today at about noon at Green Gulch farm, peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, his long struggle with Parkinson's is over. See more just below. See his amazing art featured with an article in the latest Tricycle. Clay and I went and sat with him and family and friends later in the day.

Michael Sawyer's Parkinson's has come to the last stage. He is no longer eating or drinking. Katrinka and I sat with him briefly on Wednesday. He was lying in bed peacefully and so reduced. Emila kept his mouth wet with a popsicle now and then. Meiya Wender was sewing something. Beautiful Tibetan music and chanting played. Clay and I plan to go back tomorrow. As Katrinka and I left I told Emila that I first met Michael just next door in the summer of 1973 when I was working with his brother Ken to fix up the bull pens where we'd soon be living with our wives and newborn sons. Ken was to me a master carpenter and he said Michael was his better. Michael could drive in the long cheap aluminum nails with a couple of swing of a framing hammer. I couldn't get one in before it bent over. He was such a hearty friendly guy. I always enjoyed dealing with him at Greens when he was manager and liked to bump into him and talk at Green Gulch where he lived for so many years. And it's been amazing to see how nobly he's lived with his illness as it progressed. I think of him when I see his handiwork walking down to the dining room at GG. I sat with him a month or so ago outside when his lovely daughter Mithra (near Kelly's age - 34) came to visit. He was hunched over and couldn't say a word (though he could at other times) but he'd drawn a tiny sketch of his caretaker, a woman whose name I forget. Others know him, knew him much better than me. Grace's condition is tragic. Michael's is not. It's time for him to go on. What a spirit. See his amazing art featured with an article in the latest Tricycle.

6-02-08 - Grace Dammann care page.

5-30-08 - Grace Dammann's condition was upgraded from critical unstable to critical stable on Wednesday. Only family can visit. It's not known if or how she'll come out of this once the sedation is eased back. The details about her condition are sad and disturbing - multiple breaks on all limbs, broken hip, spinal cord intact. Fu Nancy Schroeder has stepped down as director of Green Gulch to take care of their daughter Sabrina. More prayers.

5-21-08 - Prayers for Grace Dammann from Green Gulch Farm who was severly injured in an accident on the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday. Grace was air-lifted to John Muir hospital in Walnut Creek. She survived the night but is in critical condition with many broken bones. Her and Fu Nancy Schroeder's daughter Sabrina suffered a broken hand and is to be released from Marin General Hospital later today. Her service dog Max is in veterinary care.

4-26-08 - Help Needed for Tassajara’s Summer Guest Season - check it out. To me it is pure heaven to be a student at Tassajara. Katrinka, Clay, and I go there for ten days every summer to work, sit, enjoy the woods and baths and be with the great folk there. People seem to consistently be on their best behavior in Tassajara. - dc

3-08-08 - Dear Friends, I’m writing to share some exciting news. I’m moving my homeless ministry from San Francisco Zen Center out into the Tenderloin. Here is my new business card with contact numbers. Please visit my web-site at www.janadrakka.com

I now take care of the Faithful Fools Tenderloin Street Zendo. Please come and sit with me there – everyone is welcome. Let’s stay in touch, Jana

filed in CukeSanghaNews

see Jana's cuke page for more on her and her work

3-03-08 - See the watercolors of Michael Sawyer. The first item in the new art-art section of cuke.

Michael is under hospice care now at Green Gulch Farm. An article by Zenshin Florence Caplow is planned for the May issue of Tricycle.

2-21-08 - There will be a ceremony commemorating Ananda Claude Dalenberg's life today at 4:15 p.m. at the Zen Center, 300 Page St., SF.

Program for Ceremony

Bio Notes handed out at Ceremony

There will be a reception afterwards in the Zen Hospice across and down the street at 273 Page Street.

See Ananda Hub Page for much more

2-07-08 - Click on this thumbnail to see the order form for the CD of Barbara Wenger's slide slow with 650 photos of Tassajara Alumni - or try the PDF file

2-06-08 - Congratulations to Timothy O'Connor Fraser who writes, "I am overjoyed, and it's an honor to introduce you to my son: Colin Searc ("Shark") O'Connor. Here's our blog:"

1-25-08 - Barbara Horn sends alumni greetings