Before speaking about Robert or Bob as he was called by his many friends. On behalf of all Robert's friends here and overseas, I would like to express our great sorrow for Robert's parents, sister & family. For Robert's parents, his passing has left a huge hole in their lives. Robert loved his parents and family very much and often spoke to me of wanting to care and provide for them. I feel sure everyone who knew Robert have their heart's open for his family. His mother Gwen, father Bob and sister Ruth and to all his family members, we feel deep sympathy for the loss of such a loving person.
Bob's life became a completed circle. Although he passed away at a young age he had found a quiet and calm wisdom. He spoke to me about his acceptance of things and feeling the true value of being in the moment aware of life's richness, the mind being free of the regrets of the past and fears of the future. It seemed he had reached an acceptance of the circle of life with its seeming changes and uncertainties and had completed the circle with one smooth brush stroke.
I met Bob when he was eighteen or nineteen years old at Canberra University and over the years of our long and deep friendship, I saw Bob change as he grew in his wisdom. He was ten years younger than I and our relationship began with me being his confidant and advisor. In recent years those roles where reversed with Bob guiding me through my problems. He always knew what to say and what to do to help me. He helped many others in this way.
From the sometimes confused and angry young man of nineteen he had completely changed to a calm and completely understanding man who never felt anger or fear. He saw life's big picture all around him.
In another more ancient time he could have become a priest or spiritual leader. From the first day I met him he was obviously searching for a spiritual way through his life's circle and was attracted to others with similar paths in their lives.
He had been through marriage, divorce, and other relationships that fell apart. He never felt anger or regret at these unhappy endings and always cared for those who had been with him and touched his life.
He was a very powerful man to train with in aikido, a martial art Bob reached great heights in. He never used his power to hurt anyone. His great power was a gentle one and was the source of his great creativity in the art of aikido. He studied Zen meditation, Kyudo and prayed. His mind and heart were spiritually open in all directions. This gave him his great sense of compassion, always holding out his helping hand to those in need. In this way Bob touched the lives of all those here and many others around the world.
He was an educated and hardworking person constantly searching for new ways to help people within his work. For Bob, his work was not just a job but a vocation.
He was the first in Australia that realised that the art of Aikido did not lay in techniques but came from a formless freedom within. At first I didn't understand what he was doing but later his influence was the vital spark that transformed my own understanding. This spark is still burning and is bringing a new realization to many in his group. His creativity has brought a new, refreshing worldview to his friends and students.
Robert Gibbon wasn't a man that you could just like, he was a person you loved. Now it's a great shock to us because we always expected Robert Gibbon to be there, solid as a rock. We often never showed him how we felt and took this special person for granted. Now that his circle is completed he has moved on and we realise that we loved this person. He was not just a friend, his circle of life surrounded us all and his circle was full of love and compassion.
A day or two before Bob's passing I telephoned him for help with some of my problems. His answer to my questions was as simple and complete as his circle. He simply said, "What ever happens this too will pass." This was the last time I spoke to Bob and I feel his answer for me is in someway an answer for all of us.
The circle is complete.
