Robert Aitken Roshi
Robert Aitken Roshi died last Thursday in Hawaii. He was 93 years old, and had been working from a wheelchair for many years at the Palolo Center that housed him for more than 25 years. A greatly respected teacher of Zen and founder of the Diamond Sangha, his teachings will remain an inspiration for Buddhists everywhere.
Introduced to Buddhism while in a Japanese internment camp, he eventually wrote many landmark books, such as A Zen Wave: Basho’s Haiku and Zen and The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-menkuan.
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He was married to Anne Arundel Hopkins, who herself broke down barriers for women who wished to study and practice Zen. Her introduction to Zen was on their honeymoon, when they went to Japan on sesshin. She died in 1994.
He had finished writing a new book before he died that is in the process of being published by Counterpoint Press.
Here are several excellent tributes to Robert Aitken Roshi on his passing (comment with any of your favorites that I've missed).
Diamond Sangha: ALOHA ROSHI
iLind.net: Aloha to Robert Aitken, “Aitken Roshi”
Buddhist Peace Fellowship: Robert Aitken
Barbara O'Brien: Robert Aitken Roshi, 1917 - 2010
Monkey Mind blog: A Brief Life of Roshi Robert Aitken
WildMind Buddhist Meditation: Farewell, Robert Aitken Roshi
Open Buddha: Robert Aitken Roshi is dead
The Jizo Chronicles: Robert Aitken Roshi: Travel Safely and Swiftly
Engaged Zen Foundation: In Memory of Dairyu Chotan Robert Baker Aitken, Roshi "Papa"
Shambala Sun Space: Memorial service for Robert Aitken Roshi announced; official Diamond Sangha obituary released
We are born in a world in which all things nurture us. As we mature in our understanding of the Dharma, we take responsibility for pratitya-samutpada and continually divert our infantile expectations of being nurtured to an adult responsibility for nurturing others. - Robert Aitken Roshi 1917-2010
via Jizo Chronicles
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Comments
Here's one from Jack Daw of Zen Dirt, Zen Dust: zendirtzendust.com/
"Aitken Roshi passes away at 93. Pass the marmalade."
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