Robert Baker Aitken


Robert Baker Dairyu Chotan Aitken Rōshi was a Zen teacher in the Harada-Yasutani lineage. He co-founded the Honolulu Diamond Sangha in 1959
together with his wife, Anne Hopkins Aitken. Aitken received Dharma transmission from Koun Yamada in 1985 but decided to live as a layperson. He was a socialist advocating social justice for gays, women and Native Hawaiians throughout his life, and was one of the original founders of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

Biography

Robert Aitken was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1917, then was raised in Hawaii from the age of five.
Living in Guam as a civilian working in construction—at the onset of World War II—he was detained by the Japanese and held in internment camps for the duration of the war. In one such internment camp in Kobe, Japan in 1944 he met the scholar Reginald Horace Blyth, with whom he had frequent discussions on Zen Buddhism and anarchism. At the conclusion of the war he returned to Hawaii and obtained a B.A. in English literature and an MA in Japanese from the University of Hawaii.
In the late 1940s, while going to classes briefly at the University of California in Berkeley, California, he met Nyogen Senzaki. Originally in California hoping for an encounter with Krishnamurti, he began to study with Senzaki in Los Angeles. It was during this period that his commitment to leftist social issues - such as pacifism and labor rights – became more vocal. As a result of his advocacy, he was investigated during this period by the FBI.
In 1950 he went back to Japan, under a grant to study haiku and followed Senzaki's recommendation that he study Zen there. There he took part in his first sesshin at Engaku-ji, a temple in Kamakura, Japan. Soon after, he met Nakagawa Soen, who persuaded him to come for a stay at Ryutakuji for the next seven months. During this period Soen took over for the ailing abbot of the temple, Yamamoto Gempo. Aitken then came down with a case of dysentery, and returned home to Hawaii. He married his second wife Anne Hopkins in 1957 and made occasional trips back to Japan. In 1957 Aitken met Hakuun Yasutani and sat with him for the first time.
In 1959 he and Anne began a meditation group in Honolulu at their residence, which became known as the Koko-an zendo. The community that gathered at this zendo were then named the Diamond Sangha by the two. The Diamond Sangha has affiliate zen centers in South America, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Europe and is known for making the rigors of traditional Zen accessible to lay practitioners.
In 1960 Soen Nakagawa Roshi asked young monk Eido Tai Shimano to travel to Honolulu to assist at the Diamond Sangha center.
In 1961, Aitken made an extended stay in Japan to study under Haku'un Yasutani, eventually ending his studies with Soen. He then worked in various capacities at the East-West Center and the University of Hawaii until 1969, when he and Anne moved to Maui, Hawaii to found the Maui Zendo in Haiku-Pauwela. Koun Yamada Rōshi was invited to lead the Diamond Sangha and he moved to Hawaii in 1971. In 1974 Aitken was given permission to teach by Koun Yamada, receiving full Dharma transmission from him in 1985.
Robert Aitken was a social activist through much of his adult life, beginning with protesting against nuclear testing during the 1940s. He was an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War, and became a strong opponent of the nuclear arms race between the United States and the Soviet Union. He was among the earlier proponents of deep ecology in religious America, and was outspoken in his beliefs on the equality of men and women. In 1978 Aitken helped found the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, an organization that advocates conflict resolution globally.
Aitken Roshi died after a brief bout with pneumonia on August 5, 2010 in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii.

Dharma heirs

Robert Aitken appointed a number of successors, several of whom also appointed successors:
  1. Alcalde, Augusto Nyo'ei Gen'un Roshi. Teacher at the Vimalakirti Sangha, Shobo-an, Cordoba, Argentina, and a visiting teacher at the Melbourne Zen Group, Melbourne, Australia. In April/March 2001 he has formally resigned from the Diamond Sangha, has discontinued most of his teaching engagements and has given up the use of the title "Roshi."
  2. Barzaghi, Subhana, Gyo Shin, Myo-Un-An Roshi ; also received Transmission from John Tarrant. Teacher at the Sydney Zen Centre, and visiting teacher at the Melbourne Zen Group, Melbourne, Australia.
  3. # Burke, Sexton Roshi
  4. # Coote, Gillian, Jitsu Mu, Yo Un An Roshi
  5. # Davison, Ellen, San Gyo, Etsu Do An Roshi
  6. # Farrin, Barry, Ku San Roshi
  7. # Gluek, Maggie, Seiryu, Sho Un An Roshi
  8. # Maloney, Paul Roshi
  9. ## Andino, Jane, apprentice teacher at the Sydney Zen Centre, Australia
  10. # Marett, Allan, Kyo Un Roshi
  11. # Rankin, Wayne, apprentice teacher
  12. # Mayer, Justine, Mu Gen Kai, Roshi
  13. # Ward, Jeff, Kagetsu Kikai Ken Roshi
  14. Bobrow, Joseph. Teacher at the Deep Streams Zen Institute, San Francisco, US
  15. Bolleter, Ross Roshi. Also received Transmission from J. Tarrant. Teacher at the Zen Group of Western Australia, Perth, Australia. Teacher at the Maitai Zendo Nelson, New Zealand.
  16. # Jaksch, Mary Jise Roshi. Teacher at the Maitai Zendo, Nelson, NZ
  17. # Joyner, Robert G. Roshi. Teacher at the Adelaide Zen Group in Adelaide, South Australia.
  18. # Murphy, Susan Myo Sei Ryu'un An Roshi. In 2001 she also received Transmission from J. Tarrant. The founding teacher of Zen Open Circle group in Sydney, Australia . Together with Subhana Barzaghi, teacher of the Melbourne Zen Group since 2001.
  19. ## Fisher, Kirk – Assistant teacher appointment by Susan Murphy Roshi in April 2016
  20. Sweetman, Ian. Teacher at the Zen Group of Western Australia, Perth, Australia.
  21. Wallis, Glen Roshi – Dunedin, New Zealand
  22. Wells, Arthur – Teacher at the Christchurch Zen Group, Christchurch, NZ
  23. # Weaver, Sean Sensei Teacher at the Golden Bay Zen Group, New Zealand
  24. Henry, Michael Danan Roshi. This appointment follows that by Philip Kapleau. Founding teacher at the Denver Zen Center, currently teacher of Old Bones Sangha.
  25. # Kempe, Karin Sensei. Teacher at the Denver Zen Center. In 2008 the Head of Zendo at Zen Center of Denver.
  26. # Morgareidge, Ken Sensei. Teacher at the Denver Zen Center. In 2005–2007 the Head of Zendo at Zen Center of Denver.
  27. # Sheehan, Peggy Sensei. Teacher at the Denver Zen Center. In 2001–2005 the Head of Zendo at Zen Center of Denver.
  28. # Martin, Rafe Sensei. Teacher at Endless Path Zendo, author.
  29. # Holmgren, Hoag. Authorized as an apprentice teacher by Danan Henry Roshi on April 26, 2018.
  30. Dawson, Geoff. Assistant teacher within R. Aitken Line, gone independent. Following the separation from R. Aitken Roshi and J. Tarrant Roshi, Geoff Dawson became, in late 1990s, a student of Joko Beck Roshi. Received Dharma Transmission from Joko Beck in 2003 . Teacher at the Ordinary Mind Zen School Sydney, Australia.
  31. Drosten, Rolf Rev. Roshi. Teacher at the Leverkusen Zen Group, also known as the "Wolken und Mond Sangha", Leverkusen, Germany.
  32. # Zill, Burkard Roshi.
  33. Duffy, Jack Kenzan Kan'un Ken Roshi. Teacher at the Three Treasures Sangha, Seattle, US.
  34. #Bolling, Madelon Yamane – Teacher at the Three Treasures Sangha, Seattle, US
  35. #Shields, Lee – Teacher at the Three Treasures Sangha, Seattle, US
  36. # Zeedyk, Jana Teacher at the Anchorage Zen Community, Anchorage, AK
  37. Foster, Nelson. Teacher at the Ring of Bone Zendo, California, and at the Honolulu Diamond Sangha, Hawaii, US.
  38. # Kieran, Michael. Co-teacher at the Honolulu Diamond Sangha, Hawaii, US.
  39. Hawk, Pat Seisho Shin'un Fr. Roshi. Teacher at the Zen Desert Sangha, Tucson, AZ US. Teacher at the Mountain Cloud Zen Center, Santa Fe, NM, US.
  40. # Dorsey, Dan Roshi. Teacher at Zen Desert Sangha, Tucson, AZ US.
  41. # Larson, Kristen Roshi. Teacher at the North Olympic Sangha, Port Angeles, US.
  42. # Marcel, Leonard Roshi, Dharan, Saudi Arabia, Guest Teacher at the Leverkusen Zen Group, Germany
  43. # Saalfeld, Joan SNJM
  44. # Walker, Robert Roshi
  45. # Weimer, Susan Roshi. Teacher at Zen Desert Sangha, Tucson, AZ US, The Flagstaff Zen Group, and Empty Sky Sangha.
  46. ## Sanders, Paul. Assistant teacher
  47. Gyger, Pia Jinji Sr. Roshi Teacher at the One Ground Sangha, Luzern, Switzerland.
  48. Morgan, Marian. Assistant teacher. Founder and teacher of Clear Spring Zen in Charlottesville, VA, and teacher at the Zen Center of Reading, PA.
  49. Steger, Manfred B. Assistant teacher, gone independent in mid-1991. Co-teacher, together with his wife, Perle Besserman of the Princeton Area Zen Group, Princeton NJ, US.
  50. Tarrant, John Nanryu Ji'un-ken Roshi Left the Diamond Sangha in the late 1999. Head and teacher of the California Diamond Sangha, an organization renamed in January 2000 as the Pacific Zen Institute, US.
  51. # Atwill, Allison Teacher at the Coral Moon Zen in Santa Barbara, CA
  52. # Barzaghi, Subhana Gyo Shin, Myo-Un-An Roshi ; also received Transmission from Robert Aitken
  53. # Bolleter, Ross Roshi Also appointed by Robert Aitken.
  54. # Boughton, Rachel – Director of the Santa Rosa Creek Zen Center, CA.
  55. # Ford, James Ishmael Zeno Myoun Roshi. Also a Soto teacher appointed by Jiyu Kennett Roshi. Taught at the Desert Lotus Zen Sangha, US. An adjunct teacher at the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa, US, and the teacher at the Boundless Way Zen.
  56. ## Bartok, Josh Keido Jiyun Munen Rosenthal Abbot of the Greater Boston Zen Center
  57. ### Hartland, Kate Kagen Assistant teacher at Greater Boston Zen Center, Cambridge, MA
  58. ## Blacker, Melissa Keido Myozen Roshi. A co-teacher of the Worcester Zen Sangha, an affiliate organization within Boundless Way Zen.
  59. ### Cordova, James Myōsan
  60. ### Fitzgerald Diane Ryūdō Shōshin Member of the American Zen Teachers Association and the Soto Zen Buddhist Association
  61. ### Kulakowski Dominik Hōzan
  62. ### Waldinger, Robert Ryūdō Tetsumu Guiding Teacher at Henry David Thoreau Sangha, a Boundless Way Zen in Newton, MA and psychiatrist in charge of a psychotherapy teaching program at Massachusetts General Hospital
  63. ## Gilna, Desmond Keido Gando Guiding teacher at the Sacramento Zendo
  64. ## Phillips, Douglas Keido San'un Kaishin Guiding Teacher of the Empty Sky Sangha
  65. ### Gates, Mary Keido Koshin
  66. ## Ross, Lanny Sevan Keido Sei'an Sensei. Also holds the Dharma Transmission in the Philip Kapleau lineage bestowed on him in 2001 by Bodhin Kjolhede Roshi.
  67. ## Port, Dosho Roshi. Also holds the Dharma Transmission in the Daicho Hayashi lineage bestowed on him in 1984 by Dainin Katagiri. Abbot and head priest at the Nebraska Zen Center.
  68. ## Rynick, David DaeAn Senior guiding teacher of Boundless Way Zen and serves as abbot of Boundless Way Temple, Worcester, MA
  69. ### Fieleke, Michael Shōryū Guiding Teacher for the Morning Star Sangha Boundless Way Zen in Newton, MA
  70. ## Weik, Jay Ryudo Rinsen Abbot of the Great Heartland Sangha and the Buddhist Temple of Toledo,
  71. # Gaudry, Guy – Lead teacher and Director of the London Zen Centre, in London Ontario
  72. # Grant, Steven – Director of the Rockridge Meditation Community in Oakland, CA
  73. # Joseph, Jon – Practice leader for Pacific Zen Institute and Director of the Portola Camp Zendo
  74. # Mansfield-Howlett, Rachel. Head teacher at Santa Rosa City Zen, US. Teacher and at the Desert Lotus Zen Sangha in Phoenix, CO, US.
  75. # Murphy, Susan Myo Sei Ryu'un An Roshi. An adjunct teacher at the Pacific Zen Institute in Santa Rosa, US. Also received Transmission from Ross Bolleter.
  76. # Saint, Deborah. Sensei. A teacher at the Desert Lotus Zen Sangha, Phoenix, AZ. and at the Pacific Zen Institute.
  77. # Sutherland, Joan Roshi. Co-founder of and teacher at the Pacific Zen Institute, Santa Rosa, guiding teacher of the Springs Mountain Sangha in Colorado Springs, CO. and a teacher of the Mountain Cloud Zen Center, Santa Fe, US.
  78. # Bender, Sarah Masland Sensei. A resident teacher for the Springs Mountain Sangha in Colorado Springs, CO., and also a Cadet Chapel Buddhist Program Leader at the United States Air Force Academy. A teacher at the Springs Mountain Zendo, CO.
  79. # Tenney Nathanson Resident teacher of Desert Rain in Tucson, Arizona
  80. # Palmer, Andrew Sensei Teacher at the Springs Mountain Zendo, CO
  81. # Terragno, Danièl Ki-Nay Teacher at the 'Rocks & Clouds Zendo', Sebastopol, CA, US. Also, the visiting teacher for the Yellow Springs Dharma Centre and the Columbus Zen Corner in Ohio, and in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
  82. # Parekh, Antoinette Kenjo Shin Apprentice teacher.
  83. # Twentyman, Craig. Independent teacher
  84. # Weinstein, David Onryu Ko'un Roshi. The guiding teacher of the Oakland Zendo of the Pacific Zen Institute. The guiding teacher of the Fair Oaks Sangha, Menlo Park, Ca., an affiliate of the Pacific Zen Institute. A teacher of the Springs Mountain Sangha, Colorado Springs, CO.

    Footnotes