Monthly Archives: March 2024

Cochise Zen Center, Bisbee, Arizona – Barry Briggs – Kwan Um Zen Master Hye Mun – first encountered Buddhism through a girlfriend. “She practiced in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition with Sogyal Rinpoche, who died several years ago.” Barry was studying the Philosophy of Religion at the time at university. “I’m interested in human behavior andContinue reading “Barry Briggs [Zen Master Hye Mun]”

Adapted from The Story of Zen – In his history of American Buddhism – How the Swans Came to the Lake – Rick Fields recounts the story of the time Rinzai master, Joshu Sasaki, gave a talk at the Berkeley campus of the University of California. One of the people in attendance asked if thereContinue reading “Joshu Sasaki”

Conversations with James Ford – James Ford was among the first twelve interviews I did in 2013 when I began this tour of teachers and centers. Our most recent conversation, ten years later, was the 231st I’ve conducted. James has transmission in both the Soto tradition – through Jiyu Kennett Roshi – and the Harada-YasutaniContinue reading “On the Matter of “Transmission””

Monterey Bay Zen Center, California – Patricia Wolff is a lay member of the teaching council at the Monterey Bay Zen Center. The other three members are ordained. She is also a chiropractor, a homeopathic physician, and a psychotherapist. “I feel like I’m the eccentric aunt in the sangha. As a teacher, it is importantContinue reading “Patricia Wolff”