Mitsuzen Lou Hartman

Photo of Blanche and Lou at Tassajara. Photo by Renshin Bunce.

Blanche and Lou at Tassajara. Photo by Renshin Bunce

Lou Hartman / Shu-un Mitsuzen
Bright Shadow, Empty Source
June 2, 1915 – January 20, 2011

Lou’s Funeral

Sunday March 13 @ 2pm

San Francisco Zen Center
300 Page Street
San Francisco

Sojun Mel Weitsman will officiate, assisted by Abbot Ryushin Paul Haller and Kiku Christina Lehnherr.

The service will be available as a live video stream for family and friends of Lou unable to attend in person.

Parking will be available from 1:30 – 5 pm in the UCSF parking lot at 55 Laguna Street, approximately two blocks from City Center.

NOTE: March 13 is the beginning of Daylight Savings Time. Clocks will have been adjusted forward by one hour overnight.

Please contact the City Center office at 415-863-3136 for more information.

UPDATE: A recording of the live video stream is available: Video of Lou Hartman’s Funeral

Thoughts While Putting On My Robe in Stone Two at Tassajara

How smoothly the creek’s okesa
Folds across the shoulders
Of the rocks.
—Lou Hartman

Lou Hartman Courtesy Rebecca Huenink, SF Chronicle

Our dear dharma friend Shu-un Mitsuzen Lou Hartman died on January 20 at 3:45pm, surrounded by his wife of over sixty years, Zenkei Blanche Hartman, their children, a granddaughter, and great-granddaughter. Lou and Blanche have four children, eight grandchildren, and a growing number of great-grandchildren. Lou was a long term resident, priest, and practitioner at all three Zen Center locations. He and Blanche were ordained in a 24-person ceremony in September 1977 by Zentatsu Richard Baker. His deep love of practice, his wit and presence inspired us all.

Lou was a great storyteller. Blanche has said that what many people remember and appreciate about Lou is his choice to live as a monk, not as a Zen teacher.

A memorial service was held on the evening of January 20 in the Buddha Hall at City Center, officiated by Sojun Mel Weitsman. A transition service—a well being service for Lou’s passage—was held the morning of January 21 at 6:40am following morning zazen.

Friends and family sat with Lou at Zen Hospice through Sunday afternoon.  The Witnessed Cremation Ceremony took place on Thursday, January 27.

Photo of Lou in City Center Courtyard by Shundo David Haye

Lou in City Center Courtyard – Photo by Shundo David Haye

Photo of Lou Hartman by Renshin Bunce

Lou Hartman by Renshin Bunce

A Message from Blanche Hartman

A Message from Blanche Hartman

Blanche asked us to pass this message along: Thank you to everybody for your kind words about Lou. It makes me so happy to know that so many people...

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Links for Lou

Links for Lou

Thursday, January 20, 2011 Shuun Metsuzen Lou Hartman Olympia Zen Center Activities & Events Friday, January 21, 2011 Noting the Death of Zen...

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The Ino’s Blog: Lou passes

I announce to the great assembly: wind and fire have pressed in together on Reverend Shu-un Mitsuzen Lou Hartman, and he has been unable to avoid...

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