January 6, 2014
Funeral for Former Central Abbot Myogen Steve Stücky

New—IMPORTANT Parking Information for the Funeral:

Parking at Green Gulch will be limited due to weather. Please come early and PARK AT THE MUIR BEACH PARKING LOT. There will be a shuttle to Green Gulch for people who are unable to walk to Green Gulch from the beach (about a 3/4 mile walk through the farm; wear mud boots!). The last shuttle will leave Muir Beach at 2:30 pm. ADA and/or limited mobility parking WILL be available at Green Gulch, as will parking for FULL TO CAPACITY vehicles. Be sure to rideshare! Call 415/383-3136 for further information.
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A funeral ceremony for Myogen Steve Stücky will be held at 3 pm on Sunday, February 9, 2014, and led by Abbess Eijun Linda Cutts at Green Dragon Temple (Green Gulch Zen Center), 1601 Shoreline Highway, Muir Beach, California. (The Obonsho, or bell, begins at 2:45 pm.) A reception will follow the ceremony. Please carpool, as parking is limited.

Photo: Renshin Bunce

Photo: Renshin Bunce

The ceremony will be live streamed on San Francisco Zen Center’s live stream channel, where it will also be recorded and available shortly afterward for later viewing.

In lieu of flowers, and in accord with Steve’s wishes, the family suggests that donations may be made to SFZC’s Widening the Circle Capital Campaign, on the web at imagine.sfzc.org, or mailed to the address below. Comments to the family or Zen Center are also welcome on the Subtle Eye blog, or by mail.

Mail address:
San Francisco Zen Center
Attn: In Memory of Steve Stücky
300 Page St.
San Francisco, CA 94102

A cremation ceremony was held in Sebastopol Monday, January 6, and led by Sojun Mel Weitsman. The entire assembly had a chance to circumambulate the coffin once and offer flower petals or incense while chanting the En Mei Jukku Kannon Gyo (invoking compassion). The photo below shows the procession from the chapel to the crematorium toward the end of the ceremony. The group chanted as they went: “May you be free from suffering and at peace.” During this time the assembly remained in the chapel in silence until those in the procession returned, upon which the Heart Sutra was chanted. In addition to these chants, copies of Steve’s death poem were available at the service (downloadable PDF).

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Photo: David Silva

As is our tradition, memorial services will recur every week until 49 days after the death. At City Center, the morning service will be dedicated to Myogen’s memory every Tuesday at 6:40 am until February 18.
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Read the obituary, In Memoriam: Myogen Steve Stücky.