November 14, 2017
Remembering Del Carlson

Still from video by Frazer Bradshaw

December 1923 – November 7, 2017

From the Facebook post of San Francisco Zen Center, courtesy of Linda Galijan and Sachico Ohanks:

Del Carlson passed away on the morning of November 7 in Sarasota, Florida. Del came to Tassajara in 1969 at the invitation of Yvonne Rand and spent many summers working in the Tassajara kitchen. He also regularly joined the community at Green Gulch Farm for practice periods. We hold him in our thoughts.

“Sooner or later we may die, and we will go to the same place we go when we sit.” —Suzuki Roshi, July 30, 1965

This video by cinematographer Frazer Bradshaw opens with Del working diligently in the Zen kitchen at Tassajara.

cuke.com page on Del Carlson

Still from video by Frazer Bradshaw

 

2 Comments

  1. Daya (Dianne) Goldschlag

    Goodbye Del. Thank you for your presence all those summers at Tassajara. Safe Travels.

  2. Soren Leaver

    Del was a singular personality—someone who almost always told the truth without worrying about the consequences. Many summer evenings, I sat across from him playing cards, appreciating his irreverent attitude and unfiltered honesty. He once told me that the most profound experience of his adult life was looking at himself in the mirror, suddenly laughing, and hearing himself say, “I love you, you old fool.” I hope Del knew how much his authenticity mattered to those around him.

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