It is with heavy heart that I must write again about the death of a great teacher in our lineage: Malgosia Jiho Braunek Roshi died on Monday at the age of 67 in Warsaw after fighting cancer for a little more than a year.
Although we saw each other barely once a year, I learned so very much from her. I always listened closely when she spoke – which wasn’t so often – because there was always a pearl or a diamond in her words. And there was her smile! And her laughter! And her tears! And her eyes! And that vast, open, warm heart! She was wise and compassionate and gorgeous inside and out.
Instead of adding more of my words, here are links to two fine reflections on her by two other teachers in our lineage: one, by my teacher, Catherine Genno Pagès Roshi, and another by Eve Marko Roshi.
The passing of Malgosia Braunek Roshi
About the Author: zenscribe
Enseignante Zen et poète, Sensei Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell est née et a grandi à Minneapolis, aux Etats-Unis. Arrivée en France en 1981 pour étudier la littérature et l’histoire, elle y est restée, s’installant à Paris, où elle élève ses deux enfants et gagne sa vie en tant que journaliste.
The Zen teacher and poet Amy “Tu es cela” Hollowell Sensei was born and raised in Minneapolis, but came to France in 1981 to study literature and history and has lived in Paris ever since, raising her two children and making a living as a journalist.
I saw Malgosia just once in a Sangha retreat in Holland a few years ago and remember her vivid, lively eyes and smile. Her eyes are kept in my mind as two wonderful pearls, which curiously lives up to her name “Malgosia”, which in Polish means “pearls”.
A deep bow to Malgosia, although I never met her. Thank you Amy, Catherine and Eve to share some of your memories.