Robert Baker Aitken | |
---|---|
Title | Roshi |
Personal | |
Born | |
Died | August 5, 2010 | (aged 93)
Religion | Buddhism |
Spouse | Anne Hopkins Aitken |
Children | Tom Aitken |
School | Zen Buddhism |
Lineage | Harada-Yasutani |
Education | University of Hawaii University of California |
Senior posting | |
Teacher | Soen Nakagawa Nyogen Senzaki |
Predecessor | Yamada Koun |
Website | www.robertaitken.net |
Robert Baker Dairyu Chotan Aitken Rōshi (June 19, 1917 – August 5, 2010) was a Zen teacher in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He co-founded the Honolulu Diamond Sangha in 1959 with his wife, Anne Hopkins Aitken. Aitken received Dharma transmission from Koun Yamada in 1985 but decided to live as a layperson. He was a socialist and anarchist who advocated for social justice for homosexuals, women and Native Hawaiians throughout his life, and was one of the original founders of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.[1][2]