Group, I wasn't going to mention it here, but for the last three days many of us in town have been mourning the passing of one of our sangha members, Jim d'Elia. There's a large Zen sangha here, of about 90 members, of whom 45 are very active. Jim touched everyone's hearts very dearly and deeply. I knew him and practiced with him for 15 years, and for the past few years who was a close neighbor as well.
Jim was a musician and poet. He suffered from MS and always used a wheelchair since he was in his 20s. He had a heart-transplant in his 20s. His kidneys gradually failed, and he'd lately been on dialysis. He died a few days ago at age 42. Jim was a close student of Patrick Hawk Roshi, here. He'd learned all the service positions on sesshin, and served in one of them at almost every sesshin: Jiki; Ino; Jisha; Karmadana; and Tanto. As Tanto, he was head of the zendo, and used the kyosaku on us. When Jim did kinhin, he rode in his wheelchair as we walked. His guitar-playing was phenomenal, on acoustic or electric. Despite his MS, his fingers, hands, and arms were fleet, and deft. And so was his mind. Another venue in which Jim shared his heart was our monthly Sangha Arts Night, when we gathered to share poems, music, stories, somgs, puppets, and performances, or show-and-tell. He was a great and funny and profound poet!, as well as amazing on guitar. I don't think any of us in the sangha ever knew anyone more courageous, or who lived from his heart as completely as Jim did. Well, I mention Jim here because I also feel as if I received a great gift of coincidence tonight. I saw the Bill Moyers program on PBS-TV, and it was a long-form interview with the poet and writer Sherman Alexie. Alexie is a Native American living in Seattle, Washington nowadays, who's been writing since high school. He's now Jim's age. And he looks just like Jim! The smile, the eyes, the hair, and his kind heart. Alexie looks a little healthier than Jim, but not too much! Alexie had a hard life, is a sober alcoholic, and has a medicated bi-polar condition, and comes from a family and tribe of alcoholics and bi-polar people. But, what an interview. Alexie's direct and clear expression is so refreshing. His view of America is an important one. I'd like to share the interview with everyone, and to give you a model of how our friend Jim looked, and even acted. The similarity is remarkable. Having seen this, I feel as if a pall has been lifted from me, at least for now, and I am grateful: http://billmoyers.com/segment/sherman-alexie-on-living-outside-borders/ Sherman Alexie's newest book is entitled: BLASPHEMY. --Joe ------------------------------------ Current Book Discussion: any Zen book that you recently have read or are reading! Talk about it today!Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zen_Forum/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: [email protected] [email protected] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [email protected] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
