Offering such beautiful tribute to David, pictured saying words, maybe, never express. But it's important for us to be able to offer our words to David and to Linda and to each other. I personally could say a lot. David and I grew up in the Dartmouth together in the practice of Buddhism in some ways, we were sort of two peas in a pod. He first started practicing sitting meditation with me, and we also traveled to California to meet with Zen teachers and practice together. And he was always full of energy. He even had an asthma attack in my presence, so he felt like a little brother to me.

[01:05]

And we had a kind of closeness that is simple and clear and kind. And look, I saw David's loving nature, I saw his lively and grassily nature, and all of those he shared freely and spontaneously, just like you saw in this video. If we could all be like that, the world would be better. And I really want to just invite everyone to share your thoughts and heart to David, if you wish to say something to him directly or with him. So, please, I'd like to invite the cloud, some of the first, maybe a little awkward, but please feel welcome to share any of your heart expressions with us.

[02:21]

Paula. Hello, everyone. I didn't know David very well. When I came to Ancient Dragon, you guys had already been in that space on Irving Park for a year. And it was around the time that I came in, when David was starting to his relocation to Colorado, but he was still around here and there. But he had a very much an effect on the following years of practice for me, because I knew that he played a very integral part in finding that space on Irving Park Road. And the space, I'm sorry. It's just, it's very obvious from the video that he had a very full life.

[03:30]

It touched many people and animals in a very big way. But anyway, the space had such a unique feel because it was on such a busy street. And walking into that space, I was always impressed. I know it was a sangha effort to create that space, but it was really extremely impressive what an oasis that was in the middle of such a busy area of the city. And I was always very impressed by the people that found that space and created it. And I know David had a very big role to play in that, along with other people. So his presence was felt very much in the perspective of my practice there at Ancient Dragon. The second thing was, I was new to the practice, and I'm also an extremely physical person.

[04:33]

And coming into this practice where people are sitting still, it's very hard to understand how one has anything to do with the other. And he was very encouraging to me. The only things I ever really talked about with David was how to bridge the extreme physicality that we both knew in different ways to the stillness of this practice. And at that time, it was a mystery to me. And he was so encouraging and kind and expansive in how to take those steps that it had a profound influence on everything I did moving forward. So I'm eternally grateful for what he gave our sangha. And even though I didn't know him better, I felt his presence constantly in my practice. Thank you very much. Brian?

[05:39]

Thank you. That video struck me powerfully, and I'll just say a few brief things that were very stark to me. The first thing that occurred to me very strongly is that it was an extreme object lesson in Buddha nature, in the idea that I never knew David at all, and yet, seeing that video, I realized I know him intimately. Because the things that he clearly loved are the things that I love, and I think all of us love. Some people talk about resume virtues versus eulogy virtues, and eulogy virtues, you find out that everyone you know and everyone you didn't know was a loving, kind, caring person in their own way, etc., and he obviously was. And so I know in my heart that if I had had a chance to meet him personally, I would have felt a connection with him, and I would have felt a friendship with him, as I would with anyone who's possessed of Buddha nature, that potential to be a good human being, and we all have that.

[07:08]

And my final comment, it occurred to me, and I'm not being facetious, but it might strike that way, is I'm going to go against Chow Choo, and I'm going to say that dogs absolutely have Buddha nature. So, thank you. I see Nathan. Hi, I was around for the first 10 years of Ancient Dragons, so I saw David a lot, and he had this amazing energy and sense of humor and kindness. Yeah, he just had a big effect on everyone. He was a huge support for our practice during those years, and I think that that support is going to continue endlessly through Ancient Dragon, I think. I think everyone online has spoken.

[08:35]

I met David in his college years. My best friend growing up was his roommate, and we met at Texas A&M, and subsequently when he relocated to Chicago. Knowing through his life how passionate he was about his Buddhist practice, I've come to realize that I may have been partially responsible for that, as there were many, many times when he would call me at 5 p.m. to meet up at 7, check on me at 9, and see me at 11. So, I think he was finally needing his life to be present at the moment while we were trying to plan, but we had countless adventures together, many drinks, unbelievable laughs. He was a dear, dear friend that I was honored to share my life with, and we'll miss it terribly.

[10:00]

But thankful to him in my life, I remember when he would talk to me. I don't remember exactly how you two connected, but I remember specifically the conversations we had and how excited he was to connect with you and study with you. It was profound. I've been very grateful for David for a long time. Very large influence on me. Looking for a place to practice, a new place to practice after moving to Chicago, and I visited a place with a beautiful, beautiful facility that I went to and just didn't know about.

[11:14]

And I somehow found out that Ancient Dragon's Intake was meeting at the Central Catholic Retreat Center, and he showed up there and felt at home. A lot of that was because of David. Very welcoming, very sincere, dedicated practitioner. And beyond that, his important role in setting up my life, really allowed me to set my life aside. I am also grateful for David. It's a process. There was an energy about him, and yeah, I'm very appreciative of working with him and finding a space under the earth.

[12:27]

But we have this endless energy around David. So at times when I would be thinking, what am I doing? I would hear him talking about people studying, and he was trying to interpret it, and it really engaged me. It's like somebody else is attempting to make sense of this. But also, David shared his energy. We got a good one here. We knew that this was a special relationship for him, and that it was a review time.

[13:31]

But I just, you know, he was part of the group. He was always encouraging, and it was an energy that helped pull us together. I'm incredibly grateful for David's presence in my life. I was one of his first dog running clients. I was amazed at a few things. First of all, his sense of humor, his oneness with the animals, and especially with Myra, who I was so incredibly attached to. David knew intuitively how to be with her, to put out the best in her, and he was concerned about her, felt the well-being of her in many conversations.

[14:45]

I was also incredibly impressed or just touched by how in touch with the elements. David would show up to one in the worst conditions. I wouldn't leave, you know, keep my nose out the door in Chicago later days, but he would show up to one that evening in shorts. Honestly, windbreak. Suburban breeze. And I was just, I couldn't believe it. So, he helped my life, in which my job was so much, and helped me accept nature in a way that I had never been able to accept nature before.

[15:49]

He also brought me to the Zen Center. I did some of my first content with him. I just want to say I'm so grateful to him. He used to come a lot to those places. I wish you peace. Peace. She looks anxious. Thank you. Thank you.

[17:21]

So, I knew it. So, I grew up in the conditions that I was hoping for. The path was nice and clear. I grew up running through, you know, six inches of snow. Because, I mean, you're running with a dog who... So, worse. Okay, okay. That was my first introduction to this. Here I was on such... It's like growing up, I didn't care for the house. I only got, you know... Grown to love that it's clear, you know, you have that love for the animals.

[18:31]

And nature, we are the nature. So, it's very, very grateful. We got some meditations like this. And finally, you know... That's my meditation. From the basics. Sorry. Carry on. Running dogs on busy afternoons. I'd like to share two memories in particular. I... I think I met David 20 years ago. Kevin and Kathy and David and I all did our lay ordination together. And so, I've gone through many, many, you know, hours of practice with David.

[19:35]

And so, she was where, you know... But that's actually not what I want to share. I want to share two things. One is that... I don't... I don't know why this was so. But this was before David had, I think, his first dog, Flynn. He brought a little gay pig. He named Guinness. And I got to... He was going away for a week and I got to take care of Guinness. And it was so wonderful because I've had gay pigs growing up. And I just love them. And I thought... And I didn't know him well at this time. But I thought, he's a wonderful person who, you know, has a gay pig that they love and care for. Yeah, it just... I think that was just always, you know, sort of part of David's big heart was that it wasn't his dogs. He really loved, you know, creatures.

[20:36]

But the other thing that I really want to share is... I particularly remember at Dharma Talk that David gave after he did, I think, his first 100 Mile Race. The Atlee 100. And he was just talking about preparing for the race and what it was like and, you know... But the race was such that he had, I think, 24 hours to complete it. And it's long. And he had, I think, arranged to have friends join him at different points. And there was one point in the middle of the night where I think he just kind of collapsed in some sagebrush or something. He said, I can't do it. And his friend that he was running with right then said, yeah, you can. And, you know, helped him up and, you know, found something within himself and through the help of his friend to keep going. And I think that I just was really touched by that.

[21:42]

You know, nobody does something like that alone. We don't do that. And it fits with, you know, our sangha and our Buddhist values that we don't do anything alone. And so, you know, I think I take some comfort in knowing that David wouldn't recognize the importance of that. And would recognize the importance of continuing to, you know, roam with us. So I trust that he is... ...has a presence here with us. For this life. Asian stole my story. I've heard so many Dharma talks in my years as a Zen practitioner. Hundreds of them. And almost none of them I remember at all. But I remember that talk by David, which was what, 16 years ago or something.

[22:46]

It just stunned me that a person could do such a thing. And I have to say, it just blew my mind wide open. The possibilities of what human beings could do in a hundred miles in the desert. And yes, it was a wonderful, memorable talk. And I think we should all go look for it. Visit our website and listen to it and get inspired by it. My other memory of David is early in my participation at Engine Dragon. I helped to organize a picnic way on the southwest side in the Kalos Forest Preserves. And Tiger nudged me to help raise a little money through the picnic. And so we scratched our head and David rounded up a lot of his friends. And we had a no race.

[23:51]

And so it's a little lucky by having all of us. Was anybody here part of that no race? Raising money for Engine Dragon. And so it was really fun to watch it. Thank you to whoever made the video. It was so beautiful. Those eyes. Nathan posted some pictures of David running no race. And just the joy that David expects. In many ways, in many, many contexts. Certainly in his running, his love of dogs.

[24:53]

Just his presence at Engine Dragon. He asked good questions. He was clearly a waking life. So David, thank you so much. Please continue wherever you are. We love you. I remember once, the only time that I ever gave an interview to a sociologist. He asked a question of Reb, how she did with money. And he gave Reb a background of what he'd been doing. And said that he was doing 100 mile runs. And I forget the entire description. But he said, is there any problem with this? That that's my goal? You know, is there some sort of attachment to this?

[26:01]

And Reb thought about it. And the answer had to do with, you know, I mean, he discussed it quite a bit. But basically, if you can stop at $1,000,000 for 2102. And not be attached to that one. I got to know David for, I guess, a year and a half. Starting in 2020. I never met David in person. But every Thursday morning, we would sit on Zoom. And then he would give a talk and we would have a discussion. And David and Linda were always there. And I always looked forward to Thursday morning.

[27:02]

And I felt the friendship and the strength. And the world was falling apart. And my life was falling apart. And I learned from David. And I'm very grateful for that connection. Thank you. [...]

[28:07]

Thank you for being here. I'm so grateful. Yeah, I hope so. Very hopeful. Thank you. [...]

[29:13]

Thank you. [...] He sang terribly off key, very loud, one of his favorite songs, Hang On, one of his regrains that flattens out right up there whenever we were out hiking, kept me going, countless

[30:28]

straddles, he didn't know I knew, but that probably wasn't true. He smiled and laughed easily and laughed. I would like to thank David for a beautiful life together, for filling my life with adventure, laughter, and so much fun and love. I would like to thank all of you for making me the incredible, inspiring, compassionate man that I am, and we'll always have this in our hearts forever. I'll always think of his blue eyes, when I right-look at the blue sky, and I'll think of his generous heart when I look at the mountains of Colorado. So, let us remember the man whose spirit even though it's boundless, let us remember his passion for adventure, for pushing boundaries, and for reminding us that there's beauty to be found. This might be a really wonderful place for us just to take a few breaths, close

[31:47]

our eyes, and bring David into our hearts and appreciate his kindness and care and spontaneity and joy and laughter and how he inspired us all and still lives with us in that inspiration. Just before we move on, I'll just hold him close. As closing part of our service, in our tradition, we recognize the impermanence of life and

[32:57]

of sadness, and we offer incense to honor those who've lost and are no longer of good natures. So, what will happen is I will do three bows, and then we'll start a chant, and during that, we'll actually be chanting something called the Heart Sutra. So, David's name, Empty Mountain, honors the boundlessness, also called emptiness, of our lives, which is encapsulated in the Heart Sutra, especially in the Heart Sutra, an 18-verse text. And then we'll also be chanting, we'll chant that once. And so, it's in your chant books, I mean, which, where the Heart Sutra is. Page 91, of course. And then, closer to the end

[33:59]

of some page, is another Japanese, some Japanese chant, page 26, that will follow the Heart Sutra and just kind of chant along. And while my chanting is happening, after I make the initial incense offering, then everyone is invited just to come to the altar, take a step, and you give a little bow, approach the altar, and just offer some of this chipped incense by sprinkling it on the charcoal, just a pinch. And then, now again, go back to your seat. And we'll have sort of a little circular flow going, so just return to your seat and have a seat, and as one person is ending, another person will bow and approach the altar, and we'll just keep that circle going until we finish our chant. And then

[35:00]

we'll do some closing bows to the altar, and then we have a reception in the garden. So, how does that sound? If I may, this is a tiny bit of logistics. After everything's done here, it would be lovely to have two or three people help me bring out food to the reception, and then to have a few people bring out the folding chairs that are in this room outside. And also, to just honor the cloud that we said no, the Cloud Meditation Hall, it's online. If during the service, if at any time you wish to offer some incense or light at your altar at home, or in your heart, please feel welcome to join us in that. So, we just said we might need some extra to that looks like in this. Okay. Here's another one.

[36:03]

I'm not sure. We need to leave. We need to leave. On the side. Oh, okay. Here's another one. Perfect. Question, all the bells will just be the bells for the chants, according to what's in the chant book. Not just me, just everybody's going to be going out making the chants. Right. Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra, all the bells will just be the bells for the chants.

[37:45]

Avalokiteshvara, Ukshistha, when deeply practicing Prajnaparamita, the least of all five skandhas are empty, and thus we eat all suffering. Shariputra, one does not differ from emptiness. Emptiness does not differ from warmth. Warmth is of this emptiness. Emptiness is of warmth. Sensations, perceptions, formations, and consciousness are also like this. Shariputra, all the dharma classes are like that emptiness.

[39:01]

They neither manifest nor cease. Are neither defiled nor pure. Neither decrease nor decrease. Their form is like emptiness. There is no form, no sensation, no perception, no formation, no consciousness. There is no body, no sight, no sound, no smell, no taste, no touch, no object of mind, no realm of sight, no realm of mind, no realm of consciousness. There is neither birth nor death,

[40:02]

nor extinction of all creatures, neither birth nor death, nor extinction of all creatures. No suffering, no cause, no cessation, no path, no knowledge, and no attainment with the things you perceive. There is no form, no sensation, no touch, no smell, no taste, no realm of mind, no realm of consciousness. There is no form, no sensation, no cause, no attainment with the things you perceive.

[41:03]

All buddhas, all past, present, and future, live by the prajnaparamita, and their thoughts, their streams, their paths, come deep, reflecting light, and their form is the prajnaparamita as the great, miraculous mantra, the great, bright mantra, the supreme mantra, the incomparable mantra, which removes all suffering, and is true and false, therefore we proclaim the prajnaparamita mantra, the mantra that says,

[42:06]

the mantra that says, [...]

[43:55]

the mantra that says, sun of wisdom shines without ceasing. The sweet sound of Dharma soothes every troubled spirit,

[45:35]

like a draught of cooling water, like a mountain breeze. With full awareness we have chanted the heart of great perfect wisdom. May the Buddha with infinite compassion illuminate this endless field and embrace David's radiant heart. We offer the benefit of our chanting for our great abiding friend and cherished Dharma brother Katsuryoku-san, David Hill, who has passed beyond this life into the heart of Buddha. Together with all beings realize release from suffering and unfolding the Buddha's way. The Buddha stretches through space and time. The Buddha reclines slowly in silence.

[46:38]

So I have a son, it's done, yeah, it's done. Up to the moon, up to the heart, up to the heart, it's done. Thank you.

[47:35]

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