In Memory of “Papa Bob” Masters
IN MEMORY OF BOB MASTERS
In 1980 on the Journey of Transformation in Egypt with Jean Houston, I had
the good fortune to meet her husband, Bob Masters. We became fast friends
and he asked me to assist him in the Temple of Karnak with his beloved
goddess, Sehkmet.
As I got to know Bob, I learned to appreciate his sensitivity,
intelligence, honesty, depth, humor and fantastic healing powers. While
visiting me in Hawaii, I witnessed miraculous changes in my friends he
worked with: a knee that would not bend under force of a machine in the
hospital, opened 3 inces under his loving care, using unique methods of
opening new brain patters.
Bob and I had the an extraordinary experience visiting “The Flying Vagina
Cave”, which he wrote about in one of his numerous books, “Swimming Where
Mad Men Fear to Tread”. He flashed the light where he thought the “G” spot
might be. That night, both volcanos erupted. When I took him to the
airport the next day, because he felt responsible for the eruption, he
gave me a “recipe” to placate Madam Pele–in case the volcano headed for
Hilo. Fortunately for me, it stopped before causing any serious trouble.
While I was in Ashland last Spring, I called Bob to see if we could visit.
He told me he wanted to see me but he was talking to a hospice worker and
wasn’t feeling well.
Suffering from complications of an enlarged heart, Bob died on July 27 at the age of 81. He and Jean had 43 years together, loving each other in a most unique way,
stretching each others brains, traveling the world and brainstorming with
the greatest minds on the planet. They produced an amazing number of
cutting-edge books together: http://www.robertmasters.org/
I will miss “Popa Bob.”
FROM JEAN HOUSTON:
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“Papa Bob”
January 4, 1927 – July 27, 2008
Robert E.L. Masters Jr., Ph.D., beloved husband of Jean Houston, Ph.D., passed away of natural causes at his home in Ashland, Oregon, in the early hours of Sunday morning, July 27, 2008. He was 81. A private service and cremation were held on July 31, 2008 in Ashland.
With is wife of 43 years, Dr. Masters co-founded and directed The Foundation for Mind Research. The couples’ shared passion for charting, understanding, developing and teaching of human and extended human capacities, fueled their life long adventure towards improving the quality of life for peoples of all ages, cultures and geographic locations. Together, they were among the principal founders of the human potential movement.
He authored or co-authored more than 30 books and 100 papers and articles describing his researches into the varieties of human behavior and potentials. He has also published poetry, fiction, essays, literary and art criticism, book reviews, anthology contributions, and forewords and introductions to books by authors in many different disciplines. His books in the field of sexology and natural history became classics in their field. His works have been translated into many languages, and he has taught and done research in Europe, Africa and Asia as well as the Americas.
Dr. Masters is recognized as a leading pioneer in consciousness research and the human potentials field. In addition to on-going work in psychophysical re-education, alt ered states of consciousness and other areas long worked with in the context of human potentials (research, educational and other applications), Dr. Masters initiated experimental approaches to esoteric psychologies and spiritual disciplines and was particularly knowledgeable about Ancient Egyptian psychospiritual practices.
Dr. Marti Glenn and her husband, Ken Bruer, have established, as a tribute, “The Robert Masters Scholarship Fund” for students in somatic psychology at their Santa Barbara Graduate Institute, and will match any donations up to $15,000. Checks can be made out to SBGICCSR [Santa Barbara Graduate Institute/Center for Clinical Studies and Research], or a credit card can be used by calling the Institute offices at 805-963-6896 with your information. The mailing address is: 525 East Micheltorena Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Donations are tax deductible.
Robert Masters is survived by his wife, Jean Houston. He will be missed not only by those close to him, but by his peers and the many students who benefited from his mentoring and who called him “Papa Bob”.
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Jean Houston, Ph.D.
2305 C Ashland St. P.M.B. 501
Ashland, Oregon 97520
