Joshu Sasaki | |
|---|---|
 Mary Gilliland with Kyozan Joshu Sasaki in 1982 | |
| Title | Roshi |
| Personal | |
| Born | April 1, 1907 |
| Religion | Zen Buddhism |
| Nationality | Japanese |
| Spouse | Haryo |
| School | Rinzai |
| Lineage | Myoshinji |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Mount Baldy Zen Center Bodhi Manda Zen Center |
| Predecessor | Joten Soko Miura |
Students
| |
Joshu Kyozan Denkyo-Shitsu Sasaki (born April 1 1907) is a Japanese roshi of Rinzai Zen in the Myoshinji line, one of few teachers in the Rinzai tradition actively teaching in the United States. Sasaki moved from Japan to the United States in June or July 1962, where he arrived in Los Angeles, California. A Dharma heir of the late Joten Soko Miura, a former abbot of Myoshinji, Sasaki is known as something of a traditionalist regarding his approach to teaching. Having taught in the United States for nearly forty-six years and currently age 101 (a centenarian), Sasaki spends approximately half of the year at his Mount Baldy Zen Center and the other half at Rinzai-Ji (formerly Cimarron Zen Center) in Los Angeles.[1] Perhaps one of the oldest Zen teachers in the world,[2] one of Sasaki's more well-known students is the poet and singer Leonard Cohen (who spent several years living in residence at Mount Baldy Zen Center).[3]
A common question posed to Sasaki revolves around his naming of a successor, because to date he has not done so. In an interview with Ralph Blumenthal of The New York Times, Sasaki has said, "There are things that I cannot announce. There are things that are joyful to announce but I haven’t yet decided about my successor. If someone would turn up who can totally abandon their ego and that can manifest that zero state that is neither subject nor object and that is a complete unification of plus and minus then I think I would make them a successor. However such a person has not yet appeared, a person that knows that true democracy is a manifestation of true love and that the manifestation of true love is the manifestation of the state that is neither subject not object. If such a person did, then I could finally take a break and be happy about that."[4]
- ^ Bennett, Andrea (2008-04-04). "Last master of Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism shares insights at age 101". Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ Haederle, Michael (2007-03-27). "A Century of Zen". Tricycle:The Buddhist Review. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ Schatz, Robin D. (2006-06-05). "Leonard Cohen Talks About 'Book of Longing,' Monk's Life, Fame". Bloomberg. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
- ^ Blumenthal, Ralph (2007-12-09). "Excerpts From Interview With Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Roshi". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help)