True Teachers

Recently I was at the TCC Center in Albuquerque and some of us were discussing that it had been five years since Justin passed away. A TCC student who had never met Justin asked, “Why did Justin die?” The question surprised me, and this is the answer that came from me was, “Justin was in his 90s, he lived a very full life, he was teaching until the end. I think it was his time.”

I do miss him but also realize I have gone much deeper in my TCC practice since his passing. Others have also had this realization. I’m so grateful to have Justin’s books, CDs, and DVDs. Some of the great teachers did not write books, but we are fortunate Justin was a writer. He wrote about truth and lived the truth.

Justin was sincere, genuine and spoke the truth. I remember sitting on his couch as he told me about his teacher, Roshi Joshu Sasaki, and living in California. I meant to ask him when he left California, but what came out of my mouth was, “When did you leave Roshi?” He smiled sweetly and said that would be very hard to say, since he had never left Roshi.

I remember those words vividly. I can still feel the vibrations from that statement. When someone speaks the truth, we remember it clearly. Justin never left his teacher. At the end of my TCC practice I give thanks to Justin. And to my TCC teacher, Carmen Brocklehurst. I’m grateful and I give thanks.