David Chadwick Memorial Page
Yesterday's Post on Cuke Archives Daily | (email to add to this memorial)
Founder and Poobah of Cuke Archives
1945 - 2026
Service and Reception, March 1, 2026, Sanur, Bali
Articles
Recalling Zen historian David Chadwick, by James Ford
Facebook Responses
Deeply saddened by the demise of David Chadwick....
He has done great service for Zen Buddhism
May Lord Buddha bestow supreme beatitude on him
Om Shanti🕉️🙏🏻 —Anand Korikanthimath
David was the dedicated bodhisttava who kept us laughing and reminded all of us to not be so serious all the time. I remember sitting behind him in evening lecture that first summer and the only thing keeping him from falling over asleep was his full lotus. David you were always a good friend and you will be always missed. —Liz Wolf-Spada
As my son said,"he is now in us." —Jane Okamura Sanders
Although he has returned to the Emptiness, he will always exist in the Universe in some form.
My condolences to his family.
I got to know him from his writings as a cheerful person, and it was through his writings that I was introduced to the teachings of Suzuki Roshi. Since many of us are like that, for me he is a bodhisattva who used his writings to spread Buddhism. —Csaba Varga
Gate gate paragate parasamgate bodhi svaha ?? to a life well lived. Sending love and peace to his family and friends, and to all in the wide circle who have been touched by his work and presence. —Marjorie Walter
Katrinka, wellness to you, big loss. —Bruce Fortin
so sorry — David always looked like he had many more years, so vital. Anyhow David, my love to you and yours. —Willem Malten
LOVE ONLY —Elizabeth Burgess Sawyer
So wonderful to feel that —Katrinka McKay
🙏 —Dan Shardein
🙏🙏🙏 —Deacon Serge Dube
Announcement from Abbot Tenzen David Zimmerman [on SFZC's Facebook page]:
San Francisco Zen Center is deeply saddened to hear that David Chadwick died today at his home in Bali. His son Kelly was with him and I understand that his passing was quite peaceful. We will know more in the days to come, including information on ceremonies and memorials. Meanwhile, there is likely to be information appearing on cuke.com.
Our deepest bows and appreciation to David, who was indefatigable in his care for the history and memories of Suzuki Roshi and SFZC's founding years. Our hearts and thoughts go out to David's loved ones at this tender time of loss.
From Email Responses
This week before I begin on the next chapters of Dhammapada, I have more bad news to report to you: the death of David Chadwick, who was one of the earliest students of Suzuki Roshi, and one of the first priests ordained by Suzuki Roshi at Zen Center. David was the tireless keeper of Suzuki Roshi’s memory and archive, and the author of many wonderful books including his deeply researched and lively biography of Suzuki Roshi, Crooked Cucumber. David was a really colorful and wonderful person; anyone who met him will never forget him and his crooked impish smile, his Texas accent, and expansive way of speaking. His contribution to the dharma and to our lineage family is immense, and he will always be remembered. We heard of David’s cancer diagnosis not long ago, and we thought he would be able to go on longer, so were a little shocked when we heard that he had suddenly died. —Norman Fischer
For all the dharma gates you’ve opened, for your willingness to change your life for the sake of your intentions, for all the laughs lighting the path, for the World Suicide Club, for welcoming my son into your band, for your persistence in the early days of Cuke.com. I thought we had more time. Happy trails, my friend! 🌲🌲 —Barton Stone
David's seemingly irreverence in residential/monastic practice lent a balance to the rigidity and over seriousness that it can sometimes become.
David had the heart--was the heart-- of our community.
I feel so grateful for each of his books and learned so much from them--What a gift!
Deep, deep bows to you, David. —Josho Pat Phelan
David always loomed large for me as a thread of continuity from Suzuki Roshi to the rest of us. David’s devotion to practice realization, his lifelong commitment to connecting with all those who were touched by Suzuki Roshi, and his everydayness and openness to all, touched me greatly. We will all miss him greatly. —Tracy Frank Cramer
Though I lost touch with him in recent years, have fond memories of interactions with David earlier....
That booming Texas tinged voice, his easy going quietly confident, nonconformist yet diplomatic way is some of what I remember.
Loved his bio on Suzuki Roshi, what a masterpiece. Honestly I liked it more than Zen Mind, which I do love. Showed how Roshi lived his teaching and his beautiful joyous, upright being.
Sentimentally, I hope David is visiting Roshi right now. Not that far fetched that he saw Roshi as he was departing. —Anonymous
I have yet to visit Tassajara but picture it vividly through David's accounts. He once wrote of walking through the mountains singing the 1965 song by Richard and Mimi Farina that kind of conveyed his Boddhisatva outlook, and now I can just hear him in the woods singing, "If somehow you could pack up your sorrows, And give them all to me, You would lose them, I know how to use them, Give them all to me." David's archival work, life and writing all have encouraged my Zen practice. It was a pleasure to help out in recent years with editing that involved close listening to Suzuki audio files. —Baikyo Wendy Pirsig
Never made it out to San Francisco to practice, but have been nurtured by all of the teaching flowing out through the various teachers who have grown from the original group of students in those early days. Being so close to the source, you might be less aware of how deeply nourishing and inspiring the variety of teachings has been to someone thousands of miles away. Fortunately Philip Kapleau came to Harvard during my senior year, exposing me to genuine practice and fulfilling my adolescent hope for something outside of books. Fortunately I was able to cancel other plans and move to Rochester to practice in a strong sangha and under his guidance. But I found balance to the intensity and relentless push for enlightenment in the writings of both Suzuki Roshi and the subsequent teachings of his senior students. David’s books were part of this and the Cuke archives have also been helpful. We have and are living in fortunate times. Gratefully, Geoff Lister, Rochester, NY
I saw your post about David this morning.
I put this together. Hope you are doing ok.
https://www.shambhala.com/remembering-david-chadwick/
Nikko Odiseos, Shambhala Publications, President
I am so sorry and grieved to hear of our loss of David. He actually personally demonstrated the Zen Way, day by day, by doing his very best at he saw to do.
Suzuki Roshi would have been amazed at what his fine words over time have produced within many of our hearts. I bow deeply in gratitude for all we have inherited and all that you Peter, David, and others, have done to keep this important legacy of the beginnings of American Zen documented and alive for future generations to read about and maybe comprehend.
Suzuki Roshi entered my life in 1971 after my stint in the Air Force during the Vietnam War. I carried "Beginner's Mind" around with me for many years in my backpack. The cover boards were warped and stained, but I only parted with it when I had the opportunity to pass it on to a special person who I thought would truly benefit in 2019. I can still see that exact book in my mind's eye now. That book, and subsequent studies in practice, changed my life.
Steve Ferguson
I know there are a lot of unfinished projects. I hope you can be instrumental in continuing the work of Cuke Archives. Please keep me on the list of people who want to be kept in the loop and provide support. I hope some of David’s unfinished works will be published in the future.
Blessings, Ted Howell
As a relative newcomer to Zen, I've greatly appreciated everything that David has done to welcome me into the extended and historical sangha. Thinking about a few highlights, the daily emails are particularly valuable, and it is intriguing how often they directly address a challenge that I'm facing. It has sometimes seemed like David was "channeling" Suzuki Roshi directly to me. I've read Crooked Cucumber several times and devoured Tassajara Stories (and related small books) and Thank You and OK! I've also greatly appreciated the archives, and find that the original transcripts of Suzuki Roshi's talks often speak to me more clearly than the edited versions that make it into books. David has been an important part of my practice and I will miss him greatly, even though we never met in person.
David Hahn
I knew David during my time at San Francisco Zen Center and beyond. He was friend, funny, wise, beyond talented in songwriting, and writing in general, and most of all , Kind. I learned of his passing just last night, sooner than I expected to hear about it. I am a long time member of Pacific Zen Institute and an email went out from John Tarrant I believe forwarding information he had learned from SFZC. David was a good friend to Pacific Zen Institute as well, living for some time with Katrinka, his wife, in a barn on John Tarrant's property. He redid the insides to be a home. I recall once having a conversation with him about a student of Trungpa Rimpoche who got upset when anyone would call Trungpa an alcoholic. In those days, I told David I thought the guy bordered on being delusional. David's reply to me was that he was a 'connoisseur of delusions.' Though striking me as funny, it also made a big difference in my practice because he was, of course right. We need not get rid of our delusions, but become very well acqauainted with them and notice when we are living them out. It's how we get in the way our Light shining forth.
I think the last time I saw David was when he came to the Pacific Zen Institute meeting of the Luminary Series and was interviewed by Jon Joseph, about Tassajara Stories and his life. Ed Brown was there as well and was asked to comment at different times. I knew Katrinka when she came to PZI and have tried to stay in touch with her as well as David over the years. They were both lucky to have found each other. They made each other happy.
I'll miss David, and today, I'll light more than one stick of incense in his memory. I love you, David.
Dan Kaplan
My ineloquent response to hearing of David Chadwick’s death — he will, of course, live on forever in his archives and publications but right now I am just missing him, the best listener to all of us z-enners whether reason/season/or forevers…and of course, much else besides. He was so happy in Bali and yet managed to stay in touch with us.
J.J. Wilson
David and I crossed paths in Japan in 1989, he was living “outside the gate” with Elin and his baby boy. I was living in Kyoto and studying with Harada Roshi at Sogenji. I remember him vividly from that time.
David recently spoke at our zen and tea session at water moon dojo, I can send the link to his video: https://sites.google.com/view/watermoonzendo/zen-tea#h.kvqvre8goz1n.
He will be missed. What a character!
Thank you
Sokei
I'm devastated to know that David is no longer with us. I had not known that he was ill, he didn't mention it back in October when we did the blog interview.
I feel like I've lost a family member. David and I were not close and never met in person, but I treasure my correspondence with him over the years. I consider him one of my Zen teachers; he gave me valuable guidance when I was making plans to stay at Tassajara. I love his writing style and sense of humor. I'm glad to have known someone who enjoyed Firesign Theater as much as I do. —John Liles
David was the Zen person I went to with my simple-minded Zen practice questions. Forty-five years ago I asked David how do I know when an at-home mediation session is over? (When the alarm clock says it's time.) And two years later I asked David what do I do when I encounter words of Suzuki Roshi's that I don't understand? (Forget about them.) David helped me move on in a clear and direct way. —Leonard Koren
~He will be greatly missed~ Godfrey and Izumi
I was about to correct some issues with the fund raiser for my friend David Chadwick when I learned that he died last night.
His spirit remains woven into the fabric of my life and I am grateful for every moment we shared-Happy Trails my friend……..
Gregory Johnson