The Passing of a Teacher
by Al
John Daido Loori, the general abbot of the Mountains and Rivers Order (MRO) and Zen Mountain Monastery in New York, died today.
Bernie Glassman wrote a tribute on his Dharma brother’s passing today that is worth reading.
I know that he has had a remarkable effect and been an influence on many many Buddhists in America, Zen or otherwise. I know that his writings have affected me greatly and I feel a bit of sadness at his passing, as natural as it is for all of us.
I ask people to pause and reflect on him and then their own lives, this very moment with the passing of this great American teacher and leader.
Update: I enjoyed this entry at Sweep the dust, push the dirt. The part below especially stuck with me as a practitioner:
- I am of the nature to grow old. There is no way to escape growing old.
- I am of the nature to have ill health. There is no way to escape ill health.
- I am of the nature to die. There is no way to escape death.
- All that is dear to me and everyone I love are of the nature to change. There is no way to escape being separated from them.
- My actions are my only true belongings. I cannot escape the consequences of my actions. My actions are the ground upon which I stand.
Comments
Seven years ago my husband and I were able to go to Mt. Tremper for the Sunday morning open service. It happened that it was followed by “dharma combat,” the end of a one-month training period, I believe. Daido Loori sat crosslegged for this for two hours, giving concise and instantaneous replies to the students who lined up to come before him with their questions. At the end, he stood up and walked without staggering. He was then 72. I was impressed by many things at Mt. Tremper, but this simple physical ability, obviously the fruit of a lifetime of sitting, impressed me most.