Hozan Kushiki Alan Senauke

Oh, Alan, I will miss imagining the light of your bodhisattva fire radiating brightly out of Berkeley. You've been a model for me, younger generation of American Buddhist, of persistence, engagement, wholeheartedness, compassion in action, creativity, and serious dharma practice. I'm deeply sorrowful -- I thought we had more years to meet in person after those many, many hours of Zoom meetings (circa late 2016 and into 2017) and countless emails. I loved how proud you were of your son and daughter and that gave me a sense of what dharma parenting could be. Wherever you are now, I hope there's a guitar and zafu for you. And you already have with you my admiration, affection, and love.

We only met Hozan a couple of times at SZBA meetings, but feel as though he has been a dharma uncle from afar all these years, as a dharma brother of our teacher Zoketsu Norman Fischer. His teachings and engaged practice have been a great support and inspiration, and his music a joy. Remembering him singing "Our Hero" at SZBA talent night brings smiles.

Surely he has been greatly loved and will be greatly missed. In gratitude, with deep bows, Myoshin Kate McCandless and Shinmon Michael Newton, guiding teachers, Mountain Rain Zen Community, Vancouver, BC, Canada

His was a life well-lived with a legacy of steadfast practice and a commitment to peace. My heart and love goes out to Hozan and all who loved him.

My fondest memory was in the winter of '80/81, I spent a winter week with Alan, fellow Fiction brother Howie Tarnower, and my old friend Frank Youngman, in the Lake Placid, NY area touring around for a week playing music, entertaining young and old. It is one of the highlights of my 50 year music career-We laughed,and made some great music together. Long May You Run brother-keep watch over us all....

Hozan was the lead guitarist in my first band at Columbia. We were classmates, and I knew him as Alan. For nearly 60 years, his friendship was a comfort. I last saw him at a Bay Area reunion of Columbia 1968 strike participants. I am saddened to hear of his passing, but heartened by the life he led.

My last personal meeting with Hozan took place on May 14, 2023--a mild and sunny Sunday afternoon. I was passing through Berkeley on my way to the Dharma Realm Buddhist University and was staying at the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery. I called Hozan and he offered to come to the monastery to see me. But since, in past years, he had visited me several times at the BBM, I suggested instead that I come over to the Zen Center on Russell Street, which was just about a half-mile from the BBM. I looked at the map to determine the route, and it seemed so obvious. I walked up to Martin Luther King Blvd and turned *left*. I kept on walking and walking ... but did not come across Russell Street. Finally, I called Hozan and told him I didn't find Russell Street. He asked me which way I turned. I told him "left," and he told me I should have turned *right*. Since I was already about two miles from the Zen Center, he drove out to meet me on MLK Blvd and brought me to the center. We had a wonderful time talking together, after which he gave me a little tour of the center. When I left him, I had no idea this would be our last meeting in person. We did meet over Zoom (courtesy of our mutual friend Eric Manigian) just about six weeks before his passing.

I think Hozan took a couple of photos of us together at the Zen Center, but I don't have copies. Here is a photo from 2010, when we walked across the Golden Gate Bridge and back with several other people, including Katie Loncke and Maia Duerr, who both were later directors of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

I didn't know Alan personally... just was touched by his story and his singing. I know there will be a gap in the universe that we all need to step up and fill.

My heart felt condolences to my wonderful friend since elementary school, Lisa, her lovely sisters Sue and Tracey; and his wife and children who I have never met.

I have been with Alan only a couple times. Nonetheless, I have a very fond memory of him. It is from the early 1970´s. Lisa and I were sitting in the kitchen of their Great Neck home chatting. He came into the kitchen with a friend. He had a mandolin in hand, his friend had a guitar. They put on a little concert for the two of us. I had never heard a mandolin before. I also had never experienced such beautiful music in such an intimate setting, and have never since. Thank you Alan for that gift.

What a beautiful tribute to a beloved friend who devoted his life to making the world a better place.