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Cohen's Zen Retreat: From Poet to Monk
17 Sep
Summary
- Cohen lived in a small cabin studying Zen Buddhism for six years.
- He was ordained as a Zen monk in 1996 after years of study.
- His final album was released shortly before his death in 2016.
Leonard Cohen, celebrated for his music and poetry, embraced a profound spiritual journey in the 1990s. For almost six years, he resided at the Mount Baldy Zen Center in California, dedicating himself to Zen Buddhism. During this time, he lived simply in a modest cabin, engaging in meditation, writing, and daily chores.
Cohen's dedication led to his ordination as a Zen monk in 1996. Though he stepped away from the music industry's demands, his creative spirit endured, as he continued to write. This period of retreat, living in a minimalist mountain cabin, starkly contrasted with the typical celebrity lifestyle and became a significant part of his mystique.
In his later years, Cohen returned to Los Angeles. In September 2016, he was photographed in a spare living room filled with musical equipment, working on his final album, 'You Want It Darker.' This album was released shortly before his death in November 2016, marking the end of a life rich in both artistic expression and spiritual depth.
