Sadly, Roshi has passed away

[MarieM]

Rinzai-ji Zen Center

https://www.facebook.com/rinzaiji?fref=nf



Dear Friends,
It is with a heavy heart that we inform you that our beloved teacher Joshu Sasaki Roshi passed away at 4:25 p.m. this afternoon at Cedars Sinai Hospital in Los Angeles.
We will update you soon with funeral arrangements.

[jarkko]

From: http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/roshipoem.html:

ROSHI

I never really understood
what he said
but every now and then
I find myself
barking with the dog
or bending with the irises
or helping out
in other little ways

At the time of writing Jikan
Leonard Cohen was a monk practicing
at Mt. Baldy Zen Center.


Roshi at 89. Leonard's drawing 1999 (copyright)
from http://www.leonardcohenfiles.com/roshi89.html

[cohenadmirer]

Obviously both well known and yet barely known to cohenites.
A complex man and very flawed if relatively recent revelations are even slightly true.
Nonetheless RIP

[holydove]

Thanks for the post, Marie.

This must be painful for Leonard, given their very long & close friendship.

I offer condolences to all those who were close to Roshi, & I wish Roshi peace in his new journeys, wherever they may take him.

[Jean Fournell]

Adieu Curé je t'aimais bien
Adieu Curé je t'aimais bien tu sais
On n'était pas du même bord
On n'était pas du même chemin
Mais on cherchait le même port

Jacques Brel, Le Moribond

(Farewell Priest, I liked you, I did
Farewell Priest, I liked you, I did, you know
We sure were not on the same side
We sure were not on the same path
But we did look for the same port)

[pe swijngedouw]

toute ma jeunesse, j'ai voulu dire : je sais ;
seulement, plus je cherchais, et puis, moins je savais
...
maintenant je sais, qu'on ne sait jamais

jean gabin,

maintenant que tout cela est fini

[lizzytysh]

Oh, no...

My heart is with Leonard at this time, as well as all the others who loved Roshi.
What you said, holydove, simply cannot be improved upon, and I share all you've said.
The poem you shared, Jarkko, is perfect on this as all other occasions regarding Leonard and Roshi. The verse by Brel is beautiful, Jean.

I finished Lief's book, A Broken Hallelujah, today, and was enjoying what was written about Leonard and Roshi together in their long and lasting, deep friendship.
My prayer is that Leonard was able to be with Roshi in the hospital before he passed.

I'm so sorry to read this. Such a loss to so many.


~ Lizzie

[mutti]

Thank you Marie for posting this.
Fly high Roshi - wishing you a peaceful and easy journey home…
My condolences to Leonard...
Leslie

[Mabeanie1]

I feel for Leonard in the loss of his friend - but I can't get too sad at Roshi's passing bearing in mind the allegations of systematic abuse over a very long period. Here in the UK a lot of well known people are being taken to court and convicted for similar actions.

Wendy

[MarieM]

Wendy,

I think this is a case of bloggers without any journalistic integrity run amok. Roshi was never convicted of anything related to sexual abuse. He was never charged. No civil lawsuit was ever filed against him. The stories that made the more reputable media indicated that a particular blog was the source of their information. There is a webpage that contains the allegations against Roshi along with all the media coverage:

http://sasakiarchive.com/

The number of first person allegations against Roshi can be counted on one hand and they are at least 35 years old.

Trial by bloggers aside, Roshi is and was an innocent man until proven guilty in a court of law.

There is a thread devoted to the allegations against Roshi here:

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=33505&hilit=roshi

Why don't we keep this thread for folks to add their condolences to Leonard who has suffered a great loss.

[Mabeanie1]

I chose my words with care Marie. I certainly don't intend to say any more. Anyone who wants to follow up on recent events in the UK can do so for themselves.

W

[199Dan]

May everone live
May everone die


Peace .

[Peter]

.

De mortuis nil nisi bene


I met a man who lost his mind
in some lost place I had to find,
follow me the wise man said,
but he walked behind.


.

[anny]

good luck Roshi - R.I.P
and my condolence to Leonard

[Diane]

Good night, Joshu Sasaki Roshi. Thank you.


His Master's Voice

After listening to Mozart
(which I often did)
I would always
Carry a piano
Up and down
Mt. Baldy
And I don't mean
A keyboard
I mean a full sized
Grand piano
Made of cement
Now that I am dying
I don't regret
A single step

(Leonard Cohen)


----