Rev. Master Chosei’s Obituary: Rev. Master Chosei, who was ordained in 1974, died peacefully in the company of fellow monks on October 29 aged 71, following an illness of many years’ duration.

Rev. Master Chosei was a senior monk and teacher at the monastery, having been ordained by the Abbey’s founder, Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, in 1974. He was born in New Zealand and first studied Zen Buddhism in England where he studied at Cambridge University, subsequently moving first to Canada and then to the US.

At the Abbey, Rev. Master Chosei developed carpentry and construction skills and helped with building the early structures there—the kitchen-dining hall, the ceremony hall, and the meditation hall. He subsequently moved with his wife Zuiko to Kannon Dell, an Abbey property near Weed, where they raised their two children, Aaron Christopher and Susanna. During this time he formed a contracting business, Cathedral Homebuilders, and built many homes in the Mount Shasta/Weed area. He continued to oversee construction of major monastery buildings, in particular the guest house and a large maintenance building.

He resumed active life at the monastery in 1994. He was named a Master of the Order in 2010, and he served as Meditation Hall Director at Shasta Abbey. In addition, he played a large part in building a monks’ residence hall and several smaller offices, renovating many older buildings on the property, and rebuilding the cloister.

Rev. Master Meian performed the private funeral ceremony, assisted by other monks. Afterwards the monastic community, together with Rev. Master Chosei’s lay friends, meditated with his body in the Buddha Hall before we carried him in procession through the cloister to the gate, to be driven to a local funeral home by Rev. Master Meian and Rev. Allard Kieres.

More than a dozen monks and congregation attended the cremation on November 13; and over 90 joined us for the funeral ceremony celebrated by Rev. Master Meian on November 13, including Rev. Master Chosei’s son, daughter, son-in-law and two of his grandchildren. We are grateful to all who joined with us in saying goodbye to our old friend in the Dharma.

Lotus Blossom: We are also sad to report the death of our beloved young cat, Lotus Blossom, who died a few minutes after being struck by a car on the road in front of the monastery. Reverend Master Kōdō Kay, with whom Lotus had lived since her arrival in May of 2017, was present at her death and was the celebrant for her funeral the following day.

Wildfires in California: We continue to offer merit to those affected by the destructive wildfires that have been burning this summer and autumn, and we wish to express our gratitude to the firefighters and all the others who offer their help to others during these disasters. 

Summer Meditation Retreat: In late August, Rev. Masters Meikō Jones and Scholastica Hicks led a week-long meditation retreat on Great Master Dōgen: Scholar, Mystic, Author, Teacher, Poet, during which they offered reflections on Dōgen’s words of wisdom from the Shōbōgenzō and lesser-known writings to show how they can inspire us in our formal meditation and daily life practice. The retreat was well-attended, and guests found it helpful in clarifying their understanding of Dōgen’s writings. 

New Lay Minister: On August 20, Rev. Master Meian Elbert and Rev. Master Oswin Hollenbeck on behalf of Rev. Master Haryo Young, presented Kathe Waterbury with her lay minister’s vestments and certificate. We are delighted to have Kathe join our community of lay ministers, and we wish her every success in her continued training. 

Rev. Vivian, Rev. Master Meian, Kathe Waterbury, Rev. Master Oswin