Zen master: Buddhist monk remembered for simple, peaceful life

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VICTOR, MO (USA) -- It’s fitting that the wide open spaces and soaring mountains of Montana would attract someone like Zen Master Genki Takabayashi, whose name means “high pine forest.” Yet there is nothing predictable about the Buddhist monk’s journey here, his final resting place.

<< LINDA THOMPSON - Missoulian
Genki Takabayashi performs a cleansing ceremony and blessing in 2008 of the T-1 Building, where hearings were held for Japanese-Americans brought to the Fort Missoula Alien Detention Center during World War II.

Takabayashi, who died last month at the age of 81, left Japan nearly 35 years ago at the invitation of a University of Washington art history professor, Glen Webb. Webb had opened a small Zen center in Seattle, and needed someone to teach meditation.

After meeting Takabayashi at a temple during a visit to Japan, the professor asked the monk to help. He initially demurred, but agreed to move after Webb purchased him a plane ticket, and became a resident teacher at the Seattle Zen Teacher, which Webb founded.

“I met him at a temple in Japan and I thought he would be a good person to bring to Seattle,” Webb recalls. “Of course this was challenging to me because he spoke no English and I had to do all translating for a long time.”

Takabayashi learned of Zen as a boy in a Japanese mountain village, and as a young man apprenticed as a monk in a monastery in Kyoto called Daitoku-Ji, the head temple of the Rinza school of Japanese Zen, founded in the 14th century. He remained there for 25 years before meeting Webb.

Shortly after arriving in Seattle, Webb invited the Dalai Lama to visit and speak, and Takabayashi had occasion to meet the high lama.

“I was in charge of his talk and Genki was very excited about that,” Webb said.

But Takabayashi subscribed to a specific lineage of the Rinzai denomination, and his views on teaching a singular application of Zen meditation differed from Webb’s ecumenical approach. The two men went their separate ways in 1983, but Webb said Takabayashi’s time at the Zen center was valuable.

“He had a wonderful, positive effect on a number of peoples’ lives,” Webb said. “He taught by example.”

Takabayashi practiced the spiritual discipline of Zen Buddhism virtually all his life, and was one of only a few native Japanese teachers of the Rinzai school in America. Drawing on that experience, he opened the Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji on Seattle’s Beacon Hill. Another of Webb’s students, Genjo Joe Marinello, apprenticed there with Takabayashi, and succeeded his mentor when he moved to Montana in 1997.

Marinello was studying under Webb when Takabayashi first arrived from Japan, and the two men developed a sort of pidgin English that only they could understand.

“Nobody could understand us, but we knew what we were talking about and that was all that mattered,” Marinello said. “He was very gentle, very down to earth, and he could sit like a rock. He was the shining example of how to enter Zazen meditation, just sitting, just breathing, just listening.”

Marinello said Takabayashi was so dedicated to his practice and his tradition that he remembers being surprised when, after arriving in Seattle, one of the first foods he requested was a hamburger.

“We really didn’t expect that,” he said. “He was very simple, and an absolute pleasure to know. He was a bright, jovial, caring spirit.”

Marinello was ordained in 1980 and trained with Takabayashi in Seattle until his retirement 17 years later. He said there was no conflict between the serenity of their sitting meditation and the clutter of city living.

“It’s pretty simple what we were trying to achieve. The idea is to sit and touch some depth beyond yourself and let that depth express itself or flower in daily life in a creative or compassionate way that helps you in your daily life,” he said. “We had all of the complications of a city life. We were in the midst of a city but we grounded our lives with meditation. I think it made our city life sane, so we could face it with equanimity and peace of mind and a caring spirit.”

Takabayashi eventually fell in love with one of his students, Leslie Gannon, who had come to the temple to live after returning from a retreat in India. The couple moved to Ronan, where they opened a small Zen center, hosting meditation and tea ceremonies, and displaying Takabayashi’s ceramic art and calligraphy.

Gannon recalls driving through a snowstorm to Helena so that Takabayashi could obtain his citizenship, which he’d lived without through the years. When they arrived, the skies cleared and, when asked by the official why he wanted to be a U.S. citizen, Takabayashi waved his arm toward a window.

“He said, ‘There are beautiful skies in Montana,’ ” Gannon recalls. “The man stamped his paper and that was it.”

Ian Marquand, a journalist and one of the founders of the Japan Friendship Club, met Takabayashi and Gannon during a new moon viewing ceremony at the couple’s Ronan home, and remained friends with the couple.

“He was always just so pleasant. There was something restorative about being with him, and it seemed important to be able to share a little bit about who he was with the community,” Marquand said. “I wanted to share what he gave to me with other people.”

Having taken numerous trips to Japan, Marquand shared photos of his trips with the couple, and drank Sake and ceremonial green tea with Takabayashi.

The couple relocated to Victor, and a month before Takabayashi’s death, they were in a car accident. His heart was damaged in the crash, and he never recovered from the complications, which were exacerbated by diabetes.

Gannon said her husband was pleased to have lived as long as he did, and happy to die in Montana.

“He was very comfortable with Montana and with Montanans because they are all down to earth, and he certainly was very down to earth,” she said. “He gardened and made pottery. It was a very humble life, but he loved it.”

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Opting for a simple life

Home Dharma Dew

More people are walking away from wealth and embracing a simple lifestyle, among them the son of a billionaire.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -- IT'S time for New Year resolutions again when the enough of the rat race I'm burnt out' groan is oft-repeated and Malaysians sigh about not having the courage to leave stable, conventional jobs to follow their hearts.

<< Ven Dhammavuddho: “It’s about striking a balance between worldly duties and spiritual pursuits’

However, for those who have taken the leap for the simple life, there's no turning back as they ditch their branded suits and hi-tech gadgets, dictated by needs not wants.

While the choices may seem radical to some, those who have done it report happier and more contented lives. Indeed, snubbing materialism for a more meaningful life is more common these days than you think.

Perhaps the most prolific is Ven Siripanyo, the son of T. Ananda Krishnan, Malaysia's second richest man with an estimated wealth of US$9.9bil (RM30bil) according to Forbes' latest list of wealthiest people.

The Buddhist monk who grew up in London, walked away from his father's multimedia empire at age 18 after he was ordained in Thailand. In a YouTube video posted on a Buddhist website, Ven Siripanyo, sharing his early experiences, says “the most valuable thing we can do is to make our minds peaceful.”

His father, nicknamed AK, is the man behind two telecommunication companies Maxis Communications and Measat Broadcast Network Systems (Astro) and three communication satellites orbiting the earth.

Like Ven Siripanyo, electrical engineer-turned-businessman Kenny Ng, 51, too walked away from the concrete jungle five years ago, uprooting his family from Penang to embrace life as an organic farmer in Chenderiang, Perak.

“My engineering business was profitable but it was a hectic lifestyle filled with constant pressure,” he shares.

“My wife and I were looking forward to changing our lifestyle, having been influenced by Dr Lai Chiu-Nan, the founder of the Lapis Lazuli Light' philosophy of a simple life.

“Now, we enjoy ourselves every day as we have more time for each other and the nature that surrounds us. Life is good. I believe I've made the right decision. I've not bought new clothing for myself in the last seven years and am still using a Nokia 1280 handphone which I guess is obsolete now,” he laughs.

His two daughters, who are pursuing their tertiary education, are equally supportive.

“I have some reserve put aside for their education and my wife and I do not need much,” says Ng, a caving enthusiast whose conviction on sustainable living brought him back to the basics.

After volunteering at an organic exhibition, he was hooked. Convinced that answering his new calling was a noble thing to do, Ng sold his engineering and trading company in 2007 to buy a 1.4ha plot of land in Chenderiang where he started his Green Wish Vegi Garden.

A vegetarian, Ng started with zero farming knowledge. He never even tried growing a potted plant in his garden!

Working on a farm is hard labour but for Ng, it's double the effort because he started farming from scratch. Besides producing organic vegetables and fruits, Ng also runs eco-farm tours and homestays to raise public awareness on sustainable living.

He says there aren't many challenges in farming as he is not ambitious about making a profit. “I'm just aiming for a financially sustainable farm.”

Like Ng, lecturer Rozana Hamid Merican, 38, dreams of one day owning a sustainable organic farm which would house an interfaith and learning centre.

“I cannot just be learning and teaching about sustainability and faith and not live by it,” she says.

The former lawyer remembers shocking and disappointing her father with her decision to leave the legal profession.

“It was difficult to walk away because standing up against injustices and inequality was very much what I wanted to do from a young age. When I finally made it, there was a sense of disconnectedness.

“Those in the legal fraternity were selling me the idea of intellectual property law as it was the in thing' and where the money was. It took me a while and a lot of courage to quit because my parents had paid for my legal education which I knew took a toll on them, plus I had slogged hard for my Certificate of Legal Practice,” she recalls.

Scared and confused, not knowing what to do next, she worried about her depleting savings but decided to leave it to fate. Her mother was always supportive and her father came around eventually.

“My friends are a mixed bags of marbles some of them still think I'm a loser but my close friends were supportive and believed in me,” she shares.

A double masters holder, Rozana is currently pursuing her doctorate.

“I'm more focused on the things that matter the bigger picture. And I'm slowly letting go of things that I don't need and channelling my energy into sustainable living and understanding the essence of Islam which is love, compassion, justice and equality. Materialism is something that I'm slowly but surely removing from my life,” she says.

Rozana insists that her values have not changed despite the different lifestyle. Trading in her suits for simple cotton tops, sarongs and slippers, she often rides a rickety old bicycle on errands.

“I'm still the same but with little extras now which I attribute to the blessings of experiences, learning, people, animals, plants and everything around me.

“I've never been a person who puts money, luxury and branded stuff as goals. There's not been a moment of regret for me. I am happy and I don't look back at the past because it's gone,” she says matter-of-fact.

The only material luxury she holds on to these days are her smartphone and a second hand compact luxury sportscar.

She says her 19-year-old Honda Integra was purchased at a very reasonable price and served her purpose when she worked as a lawyer.

“I was travelling quite a bit on the highways then and the car's road handling is good,” she shrugs.

For Penang-born journalist Sharon Cheah, leaving her full-time job in Singapore after being with the Business Times for nine years, was necessary for her “family, a bit of sanity and to regain some sense of balance”.

Feeling burnt out, she decided to pack up and return home. At the end of her three-month resignation notice period, the company proposed a part-time arrangement for Cheah to write from Penang which she accepted. The new arrangement allowed her to work on her pet project a travelogue that was left on the backburner for “far too long”.

Cheah, 43, embarked on the legwork for the travelogue in 2007 covering thousands of kilometres by car, train and plane through the country's 13 states. She had initially intended to complete her book within a year while holding down a full-time job. One year eventually stretched to five before the 231-page travelogue was published some five months ago.

“It (journalism) sounds glamorous, but there are pressure cooker moments (which was every week). It's a rat race for sure in Singapore work dominated much of my time. I now have a bit more leeway over my time which is something I'm grateful for and am now very used to.

“Switching to the part-time arrangement allowed me to really focus on writing Malaysia Bagus! Travels Through My Homeland'.

“Writing isn't lucrative at all, except for a lucky few, so one really has to have a passion for it. (But) it was a goal I'd set for myself and I was so indebted to all those who'd helped me that I would be forever guilty if I didn't complete the book,” says Cheah, who now leads a simpler life with a “bit more (personal) time but also less money”.

She says one can't compare the then and now' quality of life as it's all about adjusting and trade offs but laments not being able to volunteer as often for Habitat for Humanity.

“I don't like travelling for the sake of it. I usually pick a country I haven't been to before, and then organise a team of people to go and build a house there under the auspices of Habitat for Humanity.

“It costs the same as if I went on a holiday but I haven't been on a Habitat for Humanity trip since 2009,” she says.

Vihara Buddha Gotama abbot Ven Dhammavuddho (Mahathera), 65, had just been promoted by the Public Works Department when he decided to renounce all worldly possessions.

The Universiti Malaya engineering graduate worked in the civil service for 12 years until he had saved up enough to make sure that his parents had a home to live in and were taken care of.

“I didn't just wake up one day and decide to be a monk. I stumbled upon Buddhism at age 29, and it was like a jigsaw puzzle coming together. I knew then that I wanted to be a monk but it was only six years later that I fulfilled my life's purpose because it was frightening to think that I would have to give up not just everything I own but also all worldly pleasures I was used to as a bachelor,” he says.

Though he was the youngest of eight siblings, Ven Dhammavuddho was the first to graduate. Understandably, his parents had great expectations and he was especially close to his mother.

“When I told my mother of my intention to be a monk, she told me to wait until her death. My father was shocked his eyes were red as tears welled up. He could not understand why someone with a bright future would just give it all up,” he recalls.

He admits it wasn't easy. One day you are somebody holding a respected post, and the next you are a nobody relying on the goodwill of others for something as basic as food. But the decision is one that he is now at peace with.

“I don't see giving up my engineering job to be a monk as a sacrifice at all especially when I see friends my age still struggling to discover the meaning of life.

“As an engineer, I was contented in a worldly sense but inside, I was still searching. Now I've found my purpose in life,” he shares.

In 1998, he founded a 6ha forest monastery in Temoh, Perak. He notes that these days, dharma talks and meditation sessions are seeing younger attendees.

“More youngsters are seeking answers as opposed to a mainly older crowd previously. But listening is one thing, letting go is another.

“Ultimately, regardless of which religion you embrace, it's about striking a balance between worldly duties and spiritual pursuits.

“Be careful that you are not too caught up in the rat race until you are too busy to ask yourself what's important in life,” the abbot who has written several books advises.

He warns of the danger of leading a “careless life” as worldly things are fleeting and in the end, it's the wealth inside that matters.

“Most of us live for ourselves but life's greatest joy can only come from acts that benefit others”.

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Buddhist monks live simple life at rural temple

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Hurricane Creek, Alabama (USA) -- Up a dirt road, on five acres of sloping wooded grassland, Buddhist monks chop wood and carry water. Following a centuries-old balanced daily practice of meditation, physical work, formal ceremonies, vegetarian meals and discussion of the teaching, the monks of the small remote mountain temple welcome those who join them in search of inner peace.

<< Courtesy photo/Linda Sutch Buddhist monks, Reverends Meido Tuttle (left) and Clairissa Beattie, stack wood at the Wallowa Buddhist Temple on Hurricane Creek.

Sounds like a scene from ancient China?

It's happening right here in Wallowa County, about a quarter-mile uphill from the Hurricane Creek Grange, at the Wallowa Buddhist Temple.

Visitors come from afar to retreat for a week or so, usually one-by-one. Local folks take time for inner reflection, individually or in small groups meeting Sundays and Wednesdays for a morning of meditation and discussion.

Walking paths wind through pine and aspen on the forested temple grounds, ideal for quiet contemplation. Sitting quietly on a bench along Hurricane Creek, a guest or a resident monk may find solace by the tumbling glacial waters.

Speaking with the priest of the temple, Reverend Meido Tuttle, one may find a spiritual refuge. A familiar brown-robed figure in the county since she came to settle here nine years ago, Rev. Meido freely offers a kind ear, a cup of tea, and good practical wisdom to those who ask it of her. After more than 30 ears as a contemplative monastic, Rev. Meido has come to embody the compassionate teaching of her tradition. Also practicing at the temple under her guidance is Reverend Clairissa Beattie, a younger monk who came from Portland last October after 10 years of monastic training.

The Wallowa Buddhist Temple is a log cabin heated mostly with wood, so the monks are kept busy splitting and stacking firewood. During the summer heat, Rev. Meido waters young fruit trees by hand where drip hoses don't reach. Seeing her carrying water in buckets recently, a neighbor couple kindly insisted on the monks using their nearby faucet.

Living simply, day-to-day practice is pretty down to earth. Monks are vegetarian, celibate, and endeavor to live on alms. The tradition is known in Japan as Soto Zen, also referred to as "farmer Zen" because of the emphasis on training within the conditions of a normal everyday life, making it possible for anyone to practice.

Here at the Wallowa Buddhist Temple, the practice is called Serene Reflection Meditation, and scriptures are sung in English to western plainsong accompanied by a church organ.

A small congregation and other benefactors from the community provide the monastics with the basics of food, clothing, medicine, and shelter. The temple monks offer a place dedicated to this practice and the teaching, which springs from a lifelong commitment to follow the path of the Buddha. A man who lived over 2,500 years ago in India, the historical Buddha found within himself the key to ending suffering, and offered a way for all to do the same by looking within.

Buddhists attempt to live life in accord with the Precepts: to cease from that which may cause harm, to do only good, and to do good for others. One place to start is by caring gently for all creatures. On a recent Sunday morning, a memorial was held in the small ceremony hall for a beloved cat who passed away. Buddhist memorials for humans are held at the temple as well, as are weddings, and naming ceremonies for children.

The temple has become a part of life for many in the county, Buddhist or not. Now known far and wide is the traditional Indian meal held at Russell's at the Lake restaurant every spring, a sell-out event organized by congregation members Erin Donovan and Jane Harshman who began the Friends of Wallowa Buddhist Temple to offer their support.

Last autumn they also organized the first "Sitting Potato" benefit dinner held at the Coffin House for about 40 people. "It was a cozy gathering of friends around simple, delicious food and then a thought-provoking film," Donovan said.

These evenings were so successful that Donovan, Harshman, and a fundraising committee headed by Chris Geyer decided to combine the potato bake with a silent and live auction Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Wallowa Lake Camp (the Methodist campground).

There will be musical entertainment and the chance to bid on some unusual items, ranging from art and vacation homes to gift certificates and experiences. All these have been donated by some 50 local artisans, musicians, businesses, and individuals who value the temple.

"The monks offer so much, this is our way to give back," comments Harshman. "The time that I spend in the temple is very peaceful, and from that I gain so much - from the sitting times, the spiritual counseling that is offered, and the community gatherings. Participation in these benefit events gives me an opportunity to use what I have learned from Buddhism."

The Oct. 22 benefit, dubbed "Sitting Potato's Big Night," is focused on raising funds toward building additional retreat accommodations at the temple. The congregation and friends of the temple are enthusiastically coming together to volunteer building materials, expertise, and labor for the project. Construction is planned for 2012.

Geyer was moved to help generate funds for the project through a sense of community spirit. He explains: "The second annual Sitting Potato Dinner and Auction is an opportunity to support the Wallowa Buddhist Temple. It is a wonderful reminder that we are all connected. When we focus on what we have in common and not what differentiates us, we can accomplish great things."

The temple is generally open for visitors and offers meditation instruction upon request. While the Wallowa Buddhist Temple depends entirely upon donations for its continued existence, all of its activities and services are offered without charge. If you would like to come for a visit or wish to offer your help toward the building project, please call ahead at      541-432-6129 to make arrangements.

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