I’m feeling grateful today, remembering Harry Roberts, one of my most important and influential mentors. We met when I was a 26-year-old Zen student, living at the San Francisco Zen Center’s Green Gulch Farm in Marin County. Harry was trained as a Yurok Indian shaman and had a deep knowledge and appreciation of California land and wildlife.
Harry often spoke of The Pinnacles. Last Friday morning I visited The Pinnacles National Park for the first time – something I’ve wanted to do for more than 40 years. Here are a few photographs I took. On the National Park Foundation website, the Pinnacles are described like this:
Rising out of the chaparral-covered Gabilan Mountains, east of central California’s Salinas Valley, are the spectacular remains of an ancient volcano. Massive monoliths, spires, sheer-walled canyons and talus passages define millions of years of erosion, faulting and tectonic plate movement. Within the park’s boundaries lie 26,000 acres of diverse wildlands. The park is renowned for the beauty and variety of its spring wildflowers. A rich diversity of wildlife can be observed throughout the year.
Harry’s health was declining when we met. I sometimes helped him with errands, driving him around in his yellow pickup truck. I learned a lot from the way in which he viewed the world – the birds, butterflies, and the rock formations. And I learned from how he related to objects like this truck. “Gently” Harry said as I applied the brakes going downhill on highway 1. “Use the brakes as little as possible. You want them to be in good shape when you need them.”
One of Harry’s most endearing and applicable teachings in the realm of appreciation is the importance of asking the simple question: What do you want? Harry would say that being human is simple. “Real simple” he would say, with a belly laugh. “So simple that most people neglect to ask and answer this question during their lifetimes.”
His follow-up questions were:
What do you have to do to get it?
Are you willing to pay the price?
I invite you to explore these three questions in your own life. They are an expression of deep appreciation for being alive.