Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

[CraigfromAz]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Do not weep at my grave.
I am not there. I am not sleeping.
A thousand winds. I will become a thousand winds.
I blow in the great sky.
In the autumn, I am the light that falls upon the crop fields.
In the winter, I am the falling snow that shines as a diamond.
In the morning, I am the bird to whose song you awake.
At night, I am the stars that watch over you.
Do not cry at my grave.
I am not there. I did not die.
As a thousand winds. As a thousand winds.
That blow in the great sky.
As a thousand winds. As a thousand winds.
That blow in the great sky.
I blow in the great sky.
- by Japanese Singer-songwriter Man Arai

Powerful.

[Hogo]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Goodbye.
Gassho ~ D.

[pinoybuddhist]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Gone! Gone!
Gone beyond!
Gone fully beyond!
Bodhi Svaha!

_/|_

[Saijun]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Gone! Gone!
Gone beyond!
Gone fully beyond!
Bodhi Svaha!

_/|_

Perhaps rather than mourning, we could honor Aitken-Roshi's memory and legacy with practice; allow this to be a reminder of the Buddha's final words sounding the Dharma within us.

Much metta to all of you, and compassion to the Diamond Sangha,

Perry

[sittingzen]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Deep Gassho,

Lu

[Hans]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Hello,

sad news indeed. May we not squander our lives and thus show us to be worthy "heirs" to his heritage. Zen Master Raven is one of my favourite books...


Gassho,

Hans

[Kent]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Deep Gassho...

[BrianW]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

Heartfelt thanks for "The Mind of Colver."

Gassho,
Jisen/BrianW

[Adam]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

..............

DEEP Gassho,

Adam

[KellyRok]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

hello all,

Such sad news...a wonderful teacher. May his memory and words live on in all of us.

_/_

bows to all,

Kelly-Jinmei

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

This is deeply saddening. Aitken Roshi was a masterful teacher, poetic in his teachings of the dharma, and it was one of his books, Taking the Path of Zen, which first induced me to learn the Way. Tonight, I will sit longer in his memory, and I will dedicate any merit to all sentient beings, the way Aitken Roshi, I beileve, would have wanted it.

[Jundo]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

This is deeply saddening. Aitken Roshi was a masterful teacher, poetic in his teachings of the dharma, and it was one of his books, Taking the Path of Zen, which first induced me to learn the Way. Tonight, I will sit longer in his memory, and I will dedicate any merit to all sentient beings, the way Aitken Roshi, I beileve, would have wanted it.

He would also want us to get socially active to help some folks. He is one of the defining forces of "Engaged Buddhism" ... and that means that folks can't live on merit alone!

[JohnsonCM]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

I concur. Actualized enlightenment it is. I will be more mindful of situations in which I may be of benefit to others. Thanks for the reminder.

[Rehn]

Re: Robert Baker Aitken Roshi

When the breath stops,
the wind continues to blow.

--Rehn