Richard Baker - Recovering
caringbridge.org page started May 20, 2025
Updates on Baker Roshi's Health
June, 19, 2025
Dear Friends,
I am writing to give you an update on Baker Roshi & how he is doing. I hope this email finds each of you well!
We just settled in our Center in Germany (Johanneshof). It’s really nice to be here, beautiful early summer feel. Roshi/Richard had no trouble with the travels or the jet lag. He is in good health and spirit!
He is participating in meditation with the community and also, he has started to read again (appropriately, he is now involved with the book My stroke of insight by Jill Bolte Taylor). He can also write emails! So, if you want to write to him, you can. His reading and understanding is almost perfect. When he responds, the writing can be be a bit labyrinth-like and mysterious - but it works!
He even gave a complete lecture this morning! That was surprising - and surely not thought possible just a couple weeks ago. We just started a seminar here at Johanneshof. He composed the lecture by partly reading from a book (that part is easy for him) and then riffing on the text. I was translating for him - and I couldn’t believe my ears. It was great and felt so familiar. The past four weeks surely made me acutely aware of how precious these moments are.
So, in a nutshell, his recovery is going as well as it possibly could - but we do miss seeing so many of you!
Richard/Roshi, the Baker Family and I just wanted to send our regards and gratitude for your support, your friendship, and your good wishes. Your presence meant a lot during the past four weeks. THANK YOU!
Our plan is to travel back to Crestone on October 7. There is even a slight chance we might come to the Bay Area at the end of October, but it’s not clear yet. Baker Roshi is intending to stay in Crestone, as he usually does, throughout the winter. But we will take it step by step and see what makes most sense.
Just wanted each of you to know: There is no need to worry! All is well! If you’d like to write or call, Richard/Roshi will be very happy to hear from you.
Warm regards -
Nicole
from Crestone Mountain Zen Center, June 1, 2025
Sophia Baker, Renee des Tombes, Richard Baker, Sally Baker
We are happy to report that Baker Roshi is doing quite well. He has remained in the Bay Area, where he has had the best of medical care, supported by his family, the Sangha, and the highest quality medical care. He has begun speech therapy, which he can continue with remote sessions and will soon travel to Germany. He is making good progress, but aphasia is hard work. We will need to pause his lectures and teachings for a while, but we are hoping that he can find his way back into teaching. All of the messages of support have meant so much; thank you to all for your good will and good wishes.
If you want to contribute towards Baker Roshi’s recovery through our donation page, we would be very grateful.
At UCSF
David Zimmerman, Richard and Nicole Baden - 5/17/2025 at City Center by Nina Hagen
Richard leaving UCSF with daughter Sophia, future son-in-law Ben and dear family friend, Renée
From Crestone Mountain Zen Center - May 22, 2025
As many of you know, our teacher Baker Roshi experienced a stroke a few days ago, while visiting the Bay Area. He was taken to the hospital immediately, where he received the best of medical care. He has made significant progress in his recovery and was released from the hospital on Wednesday. He and Tatsudo Roshi/Nicole will remain in San Francisco, at City Center, for some days while Baker Roshi continues to recover. Family members are there with him.
Baker Roshi is doing well and is in full acceptance of the situation. About 24 hours after his stroke, still searching for words, he said to Tatsudo Roshi: “It is now so.” He looked at her intently, and Tatsudo Roshi describes how clearly she could feel that he was letting this suchness be present in his heartmind. Then Baker Roshi continued: "And now we will develop every day."
Baker Roshi’s daughters have put together a page where any significant updates about his condition will be posted. If you would like to stay informed, about how he is doing: Here you can read updates about Baker Roshi’s health condition.
If you would like to get updates, please create a free profile which will allow you to sign in.
Warm regards,
The Family of Baker Roshi, Tatsudo Roshi, and the CMZC Staff
Cognate Han - a poem by Ted Howell, "humbly offering some language and rhythm as possibly a useful song for recovery."
An Update on Zentatsu Richard Baker from Abbot David Zimmerman, 5/22/2025 from blogs.sfzc.org.