In Memorium - Rev. Dr. Keith Wiley

Shogaku Zen Institute, Zen, and the world suffered a great loss on Sunday, June 25th when our Shogaku Dean Rev. Dr. Keith Wiley passed suddenly of a heart attack late in the afternoon.  He is survived by his brother, Les, his teacher Sarita Tamayo-Moraga, and a vast and varied circle of friends and sangha mates.

Keith mastered many arts during his life.  First and foremost as a physician, boarding both as an interest and in emergency medicine.  He loved sailing, photography, gardening, and woodworking, excelling at all of them.

Alongside medicine, his other great love was Zen.  Keith was a longtime student of Darlene Cohen until her death.  He was ordained in 2013 and was shuso in 2015.  He served as the priest of Crystal Springs Sangha from his ordination until his death.  He also served as the Dean of Shogaku Zen Institute.  He volunteered extensively at San Francisco Zen Center, spoke at various sanghas, and faithfully attended the SFZC Online Zendo.  Keith served Crystal Springs and the wider sangha with faithful devotion.  His practice was unwavering, both on and off the cushion.  Although there is no brief way to encapsulate all that Keith was to so many, perhaps Sarita came as close as is possible when she said, "Flowers with every step, safety with every breath."

Somehow, amongst all of these endeavors, Keith found time to care for and be present to his beloved brother and a simply enormous group of friends, Zen and non Zen alike.  His unflinching ability to be with things as they are allowed him to see people exactly as they are, in all their foibles and graces.  He somehow managed to see everyone as particularly special and it is clear that people felt it.  The disbelief and anguish of his community cannot be described in a few short paragraphs.  The love he poured into that community is flowing between us still.

Keith had previously made it known that upon his death he would prefer donations to San Francisco Zen Center in lieu of flowers.