Shundo David Haye – Zen Priest

‘Dec. 16. I leave Tassajara to go to Japan, with no plans of returning for a long time. I plan to finish my Tassajara Cookbook (to be published by Shambhala) then leave for Japan by my birthday. Suzuki roshi wants to open a place like Tassajara in Japan for Japanese and foreign visitors. He wants me to go over in advance to learn Japanese and help him with the project. I also would like to be a translator at Tassajara when I return…

Main memories of Tassajara: The beauty and power and joyous mystery of meditation; in great effort there is great happiness (the stronger you hit the bell, the bigger the sound); the beauty of wild nature and the uninsulated life in the mountains; the terrible winter cold; sometimes too much loneliness. I leave Tassajara for various reasons: to learn Japanese so that I can come back and translate for the roshi; I want to be head cook (Tenzo) but a woman (Frances) is given the job; I don’t want to work under her. I don’t have many friends at Tassajara; I want to get away for a little adventure while continuing my practice of meditation.’ (from Cuke.com)