Service today for Novato man who became monk

19 MARCH 2006

Marin Independent Journal

By Jim Staats

A memorial service is today in San Francisco for a Novato man afforded the status of Buddhist monk just as illness cut his life short.

Joshua Goldberg, 23, died Feb. 24 in a Bangkok hospital of cardiac arrest arising from complications of a leg infection treatment.

"He went all over the world in search of his nirvana," said Julie Wisner of Mill Valley, whose son attended North Bay Marin School with Mr. Goldberg. "If Joseph Campbell was alive, he'd congratulate Josh on finding his own bliss."

Mr. Goldberg entered the Thamkrabok Monastery, high in the mountainous north-central region of Thailand, in January with the intention of becoming a monk. He previously visited the monastery during a visit to Thailand.

"That's where he was happiest, when he was traveling," said his mother, Linda Goldberg of Novato.

She said her son, who grew up in Novato, traveled extensively throughout North America, Mexico and Europe and twice toured Africa - the second visit volunteering at a Ghana orphanage until a bout with malaria cut it short. At 19, he moved to New York to attend the Natural Gourmet Institute for Food and Health. He graduated from the culinary academy in early 2005.

"He was as sweet as Tupelo honey," said his father, Jim Goldberg of New York, who described his son as an "exceptional, complicated and brilliant guy."

His father, a Buddhist, said his son became scholarly in the subject.

"It was his decision, and he had my complete blessing and support," he said. "It transformed his life and imbued him with a kind of wisdom that he had been searching for all his life."

His brief religious tenure left a lasting impression.

Upon his death, Mr. Goldberg was posthumously ordained as a Buddhist monk and priest. His ordained name of Pra Tatsawuttoe means teacher.

Mr. Goldberg's ashes were interred in high honor alongside other monks in a hillside cave overlooking the monastery after a three-day traditional funeral overseen by more than 100 monks last week - an indication of how deeply he had touched the Buddhist community there, family members said.

"One of the high monks wouldn't speak for three days when he found out that Josh died," said his mother, who also noted a group of monks readied themselves to walk the seven days out and seven days back to transfer his casket from Bangkok to the monastery, if needed.

His father described his own internal awe as he sat at the back of the monastery temple during the funeral.

"While his coffin sat festooned with flowers, every night for several hours over those three days the monks engaged in ancient chants and afforded him the rites that are only reserved for people who are considered to be quite holy and sacred," he said.

"He was a regular-looking young guy who you'd see walking down the streets of San Rafael - and to be honored this way - how does that happen? It's mind-blowing.”

Barbara Schakel, head of school at the Marin School in Sausalito, recalled Mr. Goldberg as a thoroughly captivated 17-year-old traveling companion during a monthlong visit to Ghana, where she accompanied a small group of students.

"Josh immersed himself in the whole cultural change," she said. "He really embraced it, embraced the people and had fun with the whole experience.

"He had an ability to go beneath the surface of things so, in a way, I'm not surprised by his path," Schakel said. "I could see him wanting to explore something deeper in his life and it sounds like that's what he was doing."

"He found his way," she said. "And then this tragedy occurred."

In addition to his parents, Mr. Goldberg is survived by a brother, Brian Harvey of Santa Rosa, and a sister, Dana Larson of Austin, Texas.

A service and chanting in Mr. Goldberg's honor will be at 5 p.m. today at the Kadampa Buddhist Temple in San Francisco.

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