| As Mariette and I were exploring the ways that illness (cancer for me and "frozen shoulder" for her) can catalyze deep surrender, growth and learning, Bill Wellhouse walked in. I lived next door to Bill and his sister, Tina, for a few years in the late 50s, early 60s. We have remained friends since then. In the summer of 1974, as I was recuperating from hepatitis (thank you India), Bill and I spent a wild summer and fall as mountain guides in the south Sierra mountains. I turned him on to meditation, and he went off to spend time with Roshi Kapleau and then Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles. While Bill went down the Zen path, I healed up from hepatitis and joined up with Muktananda's US tour, and continued living and working with him until his passing in 1982. |
