YAMAMOTO GEMPO (1866–1961) This modest and virtuous Zen master had a very difficult early life. Abandoned as a newborn baby, he was adopted by an abusive father. His mother, however, was a warm and caring woman and Gempo loved her deeply. She died when Gempo was only twelve, and Gempo began a life of addiction and dissipation. He was diagnosed with an eye disease at the age of twenty, which became progressively worse throughout his life.
While on a pilgrimage, Gempo decided to become a monk. His increasingly bad eyesight and lack of education made study of the Buddhist texts difficult, but he had the iron determination and perseverance to look up the characters one by one and to read the texts over and over to attain understanding.
Gempo received his certificate of enlightenment at the age of forty-nine under Shoun.
In 1915, Gempo was invited to restore the temple of Ryutakuji in Mishima. The temple, founded by the great Zen master Hakuin (1685–1768), had fallen into extreme disrepair. When Gempo arrived, there was nothing--no futon on which to sleep, not even the simple bowls needed for the altar. Because of the nobility of Gempo's character, he attracted many monks to his cause and was successful in restoring this historical temple.
Gempo lived a long life of ninety-six years. He learned calligraphy late in life, and it was his fondest wish that through the skill of the brush he could help others.
