Shifu, a monk of tremendous discipline and concentration. I have never seen him on an elevated platform. With us he sat at the same level. ca. 1980s.

Shifu probably at the Morgan Bay Zendo (Surry, Maine, USA), where he lead a retreat in 1987. The photo may have been taken by Mark Baldwin.

Shifu with xiangban (incense board). I never saw him or heard him hitting a student. Guo Gu in 1992: “His mind was like a sword”. Undated, ca. 1980s.

Shifu in some outdoor landscape, at ease. I have never seen him not at ease. He was equanimity personified. Undated, estimate 1980s.               

Shifu in deep meditation. My late wife, a very sensitive person “… you could feel his presence in the Dharma Hall”. Undated, estimate 1980s.

Shifu how I remember him after retreats. There always was an atmosphere of gratitude. His smile reflects this (my view). Undated, estimate 1980s.

Shifu the way I remember him, intense, sharp, no smile. The misery of existence is a very serious matter, nothing to smile about. Undated, ca. 1980s.

Shifu in deep meditation. My late wife, a very sensitive person “… you could feel his presence in the Dharma Hall”. Undated, estimate 1980s.

Shifu how I remember him after retreats. There always was an atmosphere of gratitude. His smile reflects this (my view). Undated, estimate 1980s.

Shifu was an outstanding scholar. His knowledge was wide and deep. (How do I know? After decades of academic effort, I know when I meet one.) Undated, ca. 1980s.

Shifu. My late wife had this picture on her desk, maybe already before I first met him. My idea then, “a humble and serious scholar, rare, precious”. Undated, ca. 1980s.

Rules at the Ch’an Meditation Center, Queens, New York. Ordinary people like me need rules, when it comes to foolishness I am hard to beat. Undated, ca. 1980s.