![Mel Weitsman’s memorial stone](https://blogs.sfzc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/BLOG-ZMC-Mel-Memorial-Stone_Lee-Lesser_1200-x-628-px_png.png)
Mel Weitsman’s Memorial Stone. Photo by Lee Lesser.
The Suzuki Roshi Memorial at Tassajara is the primary memorial site for SFZC’s founder Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. This article from an old Wind Bell covers the ceremony held when his ashes were interred there. Since then, there are markers for Katagiri Roshi, Trungpa Rinpoche, Trudy Dixon, and now Sojun Mel Weitsman.
Recently the SFZC spiritual leadership set the guideline for who can have their ashes interred there. The person must have been ordained by Suzuki Roshi, Dharma Transmitted by someone in his lineage, and served as Abbot of SFZC.
Sojun’s stone was placed on New Year’s Day 2025. A private ceremony will be held there at some point this year.
From Chris Fortin, visiting teacher with the Wildland Firefighter’s Retreat:
At Tassajara Zen Mountain Center on New Year’s Day 2025, twenty-one firefighters from all over the country who were partaking in the annual Wildland Firefighters’ Retreat became as one body and moved former SFZC Abbot Mel Weitsman’s memorial stone to the Suzuki Roshi Memorial Site. The approximately 500–700 pound stone was maneuvered up the steep, narrow trail with collective care, harmony, and joy, and was carefully set in place. The firefighters remarked that they saw this as a giving-back effort for all they had learned and experienced in the retreat.
From ZMC Plant Manager Amy Hutto on what it took to move the stone:
The first effort was to get it out of the woods and onto the road with a winch. Then we took the bobcat and moved it over to the bottom of the hill as far as we could get. Then we moved it up the hill and into place. It was a real joy to be part of this!
Infinite gratitude to all who participated in this meaningful effort.
![](https://blogs.sfzc.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Mel-Stone.jpeg)
Photo by Amy Hutto