Zen Conversations

Conversations with North American Zen Teachers

Walter Nowick

Moonspring Hermitage – Walter Nowick was one of seven children born to Russian immigrants who were potato farmers on Long Island. It was a cultured family. Walter’s mother insisted that her children take piano lessons. A local teacher came to the farm every Saturday from 9:00 in the morning until 6:00 in the evening to…

Nicole Baden

Dharma Sangha – Nicole Baden succeeded Richard Baker as the abbot of the two Dharma Sangha practice centers, the Crestone Mountain Zen Center in Colorado, and the Zen Buddhistisches Zentrum Schwarzwald in Germany. Her first encounter with Richard, however, was not particularly auspicious. “I was born in Northern Germany in a small village just south…

Lou Nordstrom

“Memoirs of an American Zen Pioneer” I have not interviewed Lou Nordstrom. This profile is gleaned, in part, from his book, Memoirs of an American Zen Pioneer.[1] My only communication with him was through a student who replied to my request to quote material from that book. The student wrote back: “Lou says of course…

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