In Memoriam_Rev. Alethea Waxman

Wishing her blessings and peace.


From Shasta Abbey's website, under the "News" section:


Posted on 9/10/13
Rev. Alethea Waxman passed away peacefully on September 10, 2013 around 2:00am PDT. She was laid in the Founders Shrine after ceremonial washing of the body. The ceremony of viewing the body in the Buddha Hall occurred after breakfast, following which Rev. Master Haryo and Rev. Bridin took Rev. Alethea to the crematory in Yreka. Cremation will be at 10:00am Friday PDT.

On Sunday, September 15, 2013, at 10:30am, we will have the Funeral Ceremony for Rev. Alethea. We will not have the Avalokiteshwara Ceremony, nor will we have a Dharma Talk that day. We will have Tea following the Funeral. All are invited. Thank you for your kindness and offerings of merit during this time.

Thank you for posting this, Lise. Whenever I thought of the Abbey, I often thought about Rev. Alathea also, wondering how she might be doing.  I made her aquaintance in the late 1990's when she spent some time at the then Santa Barbara Priory, during my early days of training with R.M. Jisho.  I will think of her this coming Friday. 

In Gassho

Brigitte

Brigitte, I'll be thinking of her too - and will feel connected to you as well, while we think of her.  I liked to cross paths with her, and I remember her smile and voice. 

Some sharing, I hope she wouldn't mind this. She was talking to me once about the mastectomy she had had, and how the doctors offered her the option of reconstructive surgery and implants.  Her eyes kind of sparkled as she said, "I thanked them and declined. I told them, I'm a monk, I don't need to look good in a sweater!" Delightful.

best,
Lise

Thank you so much Lise, and Brigitte, for your postings.

I never met Rev. Alethea in person, but we began exchanging emails several months ago, in response to the Interim Board's rather quiet yet revolutionary work. I believe that she was fearless in her response to the OBC cultural troubles that we document on this forum.

In so doing, I think that she manifested, and exemplified, the compassionate and insightful-side of our tradition.

I think so too.

I want to remember what else I knew of her -  I think she was a dancer, in earlier years?  And she had a facility for writing, maybe? although I don't know if that was part of how she made her living before leaving lay life. I might be off a little on these details - it has been awhile. 

I do remember her kindness.

Thinking about all of this I can't help but hear Dogen Zenji's  "Just for the time being, Just for a while", somehow reverberating in the background.

Lise and Brigitte, I'll be joining you both on Sunday morning to quietly remember Alethea and also tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. as she is cremated.  I had dinner not long ago with  Berthold and he told me of her terminal diagnosis.  I'm saddened and suprised her death came so quickly.  Just the other day I bought her a
thinking-of-you card and regret terribly that I didn't get it in the mail.
Godspeed Alethea

Rev. Alethea's breast cancer returned in February. The report is that it resurfaced with shoulder pain, and progressed to the eventual loss of movement in her left arm. My understanding is that she was able to continue to participate in Sunday community teas until only just recently.

I'm with you here as well, Mokuan. (And so glad that you had dinner recently with Berthold!).

Saddened by the news of Rev. Alethea. I loved her talks and presence--she was so genuine, humble, and kind. Even tho I don't go to the Abbey any more, will miss her presence on this earth. Rest in Peace friend.