Funerals and Memorials. In the summer of 2021 the community focused on the dying and deaths of two of our long-term members, Rev. Master Meikō Jones and Rev. Renée Doak. (See photos and related writings below.) We provided hospice care for both monks. Rev. Renée died on 12^thJuly, followed by her cremation on 20^thJuly and her funeral on 31^stJuly. Rev. Master Meikō died on 27^thJuly, followed by her cremation on 3^rdAugust and her funeral on 14^thAugust. We welcomed a number of OBC monks and lay guests for both funerals. Both monks will be sorely missed. Please see their obituaries at the end of the News.

On 22^nd July we offered a second-year memorial for Richard Markley, a long-time friend of the monastery. He had been a member of the Fresno Meditation Group and frequently helped us with translation work. His wife Yasuko and two friends attended the ceremony. Rev. Master Ando was celebrant.

On 21^st August we held a memorial tea with Eileen Burke-Trent in memory of her late husband Roger. He had been a long-timer supporter of the monastery and a founder and active member of the Chico Meditation Group. Afterwards, we installed his ashes in a beautiful turquoise urn in the Avalokiteshwara Shrine.

Other News. On 11^thAugust we welcomed a short visit by Henry and two assistants from San Jose to make offerings on behalf of Vietnamese donors in their area. Their annual summer visits had been circumscribed by Covid restrictions, but the donors wanted to offer food and toiletries gifts anyway.  We are very grateful for their great generosity over the years.

On 17^th August we hosted an overnight visit from eight male and female monks from the San Francisco and Los Angeles Dharma Drum Mountain temples. Being monastics from the Chan tradition, they participated in our meditation sittings and services and enjoyed a couple of lively discussions with Abbey senior monks after an extensive tour of the monastery. They were eager to learn how we are offering the Dharma to Westerners.

As the summer ended, we sadly said farewell to Rev. Caitlin Clark, of Great Ocean Dharma Refuge in Wales, who had been visiting for the last year and a half. She was of immense help in all the monastic offices in which she served, and we appreciated her bright willingness and companionship in community life.

Rev. Master Meiko Jones

Hōun Meikō

May 16^th, 1940—July 27^th, 2021

Reverend Master Meikō Jones died on July 27^th while on hospice in her room at Shasta Abbey at the age of 81. She was a disciple of Reverend Master Jiyu Kennett. Rev. Meikō’s religious name meant “Bright Peace within the Dharma Cloud.” She was ordained in 1984, and received transmission from Rev. Master Jiyu in 1989. Rev. Master Jiyu recognized her as a Teacher of Buddhism in 1991. Rev. Meikō was named a Master in 1999 by Rev. Master Daizui MacPhillamy.

Reverend Meikō was a bright and energetic woman of steadfast determination, hailing originally from Burbank, California, then raising a family, working, and earning a B.A. in Philosophy and Communications at CSU, Sacramento. She became a monk in mid-life, and in her early years at Shasta Abbey served in many capacities, including as sacristan and as a chaplain to the Bear River Meditation Group.

In 1997, Rev. Meikōvolunteered for and was appointed as Prior at the Portland Buddhist Priory, a position she held for eighteen years. While there, she ordained Rev. Clairissa Beattie as her monastic disciple; they trained together for ten years. As Prior, Rev. Meikō served a growing congregation, including a joyous collection of Dharma School children and their parents, and a succession of four rescued German Shepherds. With dedication, she persevered in ongoing restoration of the temple’s historic building. In particular, she oversaw landscaping, building the Kuan Yin shrine/guest room, and making the meditation hall wheelchair accessible.

Under her leadership, the Portland Priory continued to be a good example of an urban temple. Rev. Meikō maintained a strict monastic schedule for residents, while at the same time providing a refuge for many of her neighbors, who were not necessarily Buddhist. She also instituted a traditional alms round in the Selwood neighborhood, where she was accompanied by monks from other temples and always received a generous response.

In 2015 Rev. Meikō returned to Shasta Abbey, where she again became a pillar of the monastic sangha, serving as sacristan for several years and then in the Bursar’s office and filling in to help wherever she was most needed. After a long decline during which she exhibited great patience and fortitude, she died on July 27^th. She was a monk for over 37 years. With deep love and appreciation, we offer our gratitude for her life and wise teaching.

Hōun Renée

October 29, 1944—July 12, 2021

Rev. Renee Doak

Reverend K. L. Hōun Renée Doak, was ordained at age 55. Her monastic name meant “She who is reborn within the Dharma Cloud.” Wholeheartedly, she lived the next 22 years as a monk at Shasta Abbey.

Rev. Renée was born October 29, 1944.  Early on she came to know impermanence and the transitory nature of life.  Her brother died early in his life. Her father died early in hers.  She grew up and spent much of her adult life in the Springfield, Missouri and Arkansas Ozark Mountains area.

She led a full life, married twice, and gave birth to a daughter.  She spent time in the Peace Corps, serving the women of Sana’a in Ethiopia.  She enjoyed jewelry making and quilting.

Rev. Renée was deeply attentive to her mother throughout her life, even moving her to Mount Shasta where she moved into the Abrams Lake RV Park near the monastery.  Myrtle became a good friend to the Abbey and was mourned by the community when she died.

Rev. Renée took to the practice of Soto Zen and deeply appreciated time at the Abbey as a lay person. For several years – each summer – she would take a Greyhound bus for the nearly 3 day trip from Missouri to the Abbey.  She became a lay minister in the late 1990’s.

She entered the monastic community as a postulant on April 30, 1999, and was ordained by Rev. Master Eko Little on September 22 of that same year.  She was transmitted on December 21, 2004, and received her Teacher Certification on June 20, 2007.  Over her monastic life she served the community as infirmarian, as well as vestiarian.

Rev. Renée was an excellent gardener, creating lovely garden spaces around the Abbey grounds.  She loved cats—particular Koko, Yum-Yum, and Katishaw—but was friends to all Abbey cats, most recently Mitra, who had been Rev. Master Meikō’s cat.  She was generous in her willingness to take on special projects for the community and maintained a bright spirit in spite of numerous health problems.

With characteristic courage and straightforwardness, Rev. Renée briefly expressed dismay about her declining health, then moved right along to accepting her rapidly changing situation. It was remarkable to see how quickly and graciously she realized the time had come to ask for and accept help. She died peacefully on July 12, 2021.  May she be in her own True Home in peace.