Kokyo Henkel leads a new generation of Buddhist scholars and is currently Head Teacher at Santa Cruz Zen Center. Kokyo's interests include looking at how the classic original teachings of Buddha-Dharma from ancient India, China, and Japan are still very much alive and useful in present-day America to bring peace and harmony to this troubled world. This year, Kokyo will be leading Genzo-e Sesshin - July 10-12
May 20th Shoho Michael Newhall
Shoho Michael Newhall was ordained and transmitted by Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. Prior to his installation as Jikoji’s Resident Teacher, he taught art and Buddhism at Naropa University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and other universities in the midwest. He leads sesshins and meditation workshops at Zen centers in the U.S. and Europe. Shoho has also practiced and studied with Keibun Otogawa in Japan, Dainin Katagiri Roshi, and Tenshin Reb Anderson. Click here to listen to Mike’s talk.
Andy Acker: Layman Pang/ Lay & Monastic Practice in Buddhism
Andy Acker is a resident at Jikoji and recently ordained as a priest in the lineage of Kobun Chino, Roshi. He has an Interdisciplinary B.A. in Psychology and Religion from Naropa University and a Masters in Traditional Chinese Medicine. In this talk, Andy speaks about the mysterious Chinese Zen figure of Layman Pang as a gateway to discussing connections and differences of lay and monastic practices within Buddhism. He also pulls from portions of Reginald A Ray's "Buddhist Saints In India" in this talk. Click here to listen to Andy’s talk.
Angie Boissevain
Angie studied with Kobun while she was raising three sons, being a wife and writing poetry. He called her the enlightened housewife. During the last thirty-plus years of her practice with him she served as a teacher and director at Jikoji, a retreat center she helped to establish for Kobun in the Santa Cruz mountains. She founded and serves as head teacher for the Floating Zendo in San Jose.
Shoho Michael Newhall
Shoho Michael Newhall was ordained and transmitted by Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. Prior to his installation as Jikoji’s Resident Teacher, he taught art and Buddhism at Naropa University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and other universities in the midwest. He leads sesshins and meditation workshops at Zen centers in the U.S. and Europe. Shoho has also practiced and studied with Keibun Otogawa in Japan, Dainin Katagiri Roshi, and Tenshin Reb Anderson.
Zenju Earthlyn Manuel
Zenju Earthlyn Manuel, Ph.D., is an author and ordained Zen Buddhist priest. She combines Zen meditation, intuitive knowing, and indigenous wisdom in a path of liberation. She applies spiritual teachings to our lived experiences in the context of race, sexuality, and gender and at the same time hold these experiences as gateways to absolute freedom. With her own insights and creative teachings she encourages us to make a commitment to freedom and take refuge in it. Ultimately, she invites meditations on the nature of embodiment within a boundless life. As a teacher she continues as a student by dedicating herself to ongoing study and dharma practice (including yearly residential retreats) and to deepening continually her understanding and embodiment of the Buddha’s teachings.
Lance Hilt
Lance began his study of Zen in the late seventies, first at the Zen Center of Los Angeles and affiliates, and soon in Seattle at Cho Bo JI, a Rinzai temple under the guidance of Genki Takabayashi. In 1990 he moved to the Bay area and began practice at Jikoji. In 2002 he relocated to Oregon and practiced with the Ashland Zen Center. By 2012 he was back in the Bay Area and at Jikoji again where he will remain until the next wind whisks him away. Interests other than Zen include comparative philosophy, the philosophy of mind, and the philosophy of science.
Joe Hall
Joseph W Hall is a resident priest at Jikoji Zen Center. His energy is enthusiastically focused on the nexus between Lay Practice and the Monastic world and he is fascinated by the ways in which we interpret the world and the means by which physical motion trains the mind. He wakes up in the morning excited to witness the ongoing birth of American Zen. His favorite words are Sublime, Exquisite, and Ravissant.
Shoho Michael Newhall
Shoho Michael Newhall was ordained and transmitted by Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. Prior to his installation as Jikoji’s Resident Teacher, he taught art and Buddhism at Naropa University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and other universities in the midwest. He leads sesshins and meditation workshops at Zen centers in the U.S. and Europe. Shoho has also practiced and studied with Keibun Otogawa in Japan, Dainin Katagiri Roshi, and Tenshin Reb Anderson.
Misha Merrill
In 1976, Misha Merrill graduated from college, showed her work in small galleries and earned her living as a graphic designer. In 1988 she ordained as a Zen priest with Les Kaye Roshi, went to the monastery and became a librarian. She received Dharma Transmission in 1998 and became the Primary Teacher for Zen Heart Sangha in Menlo Park/ Woodside. Misha has been teaching tea to others (including children) for over 15 years. As Misha says it, art, gardening, teaching, tea, and her husband and animals are the crucial pieces of her 'pie'--meditation is her 'pie plate'!
Doug Jacobson
Angie Boissevain
Angie, the guiding teacher for Floating Zendo in San Jose, studied with Kobun while she was raising three sons, being a wife and writing poetry.He called her the enlightened housewife. During the last thirty-plus years of her practice with him she served as a teacher and director at Jikoji, a retreat center she helped to establish for Kobun in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Joe Hall
Joseph W Hall is a resident priest at Jikoji Zen Center. His energy is enthusiastically focused on the nexus between Lay Practice and the Monastic world and he is fascinated by the ways in which we interpret the world and the means by which physical motion trains the mind. He wakes up in the morning excited to witness the ongoing birth of American Zen. His favorite words are Sublime, Exquisite, and Ravissant.
Hogan Martin
Hogan (Michael Martin) has been living at Jikoji for almost two years, and serves as Jikoji's maintenance manager. Several different types of practice and teachings shape him. He finds great joy in the exploration of apparent connections, parallels, and contradictions. There is work to be done – hurrah!
Shoho Michael Newhall
Shoho Michael Newhall was ordained and transmitted by Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. Prior to his installation as Jikoji’s Resident Teacher, he taught art and Buddhism at Naropa University, the Art Institute of Chicago, and other universities in the midwest. He leads sesshins and meditation workshops at Zen centers in the U.S. and Europe. Shoho has also practiced and studied with Keibun Otogawa in Japan, Dainin Katagiri Roshi, and Tenshin Reb Anderson.
Doug Jacobson
Tersar Tulku Yingrik Drubpa Rinpoche
Tersar Tulku Yingrik Drubpa' talk will be on “Calm Abiding Meditation in Tibetan Tradition". He was born into the Khangsar tribe of Golok, a pastoral, nomadic society in eastern Tibet. His Dharma name is Padma Thubten Rigdzin. From a young age, he received instruction in the precious Buddhist scriptures and sacred essential heart-essence teachings from many Lamas and Tulkus. He was recognized by Gomma Khanpo Lotsul as the reincarnation of Tulku Dordra. Lama Tashi Phuntsok predicted that Tersar would promote Buddhism around the world. He prepared for a Master's Degree at Peking University but left for the United States before completing his studies. Currently, he resides in Bay area California where he has established the Tibetology organization and Gankyil Organization focuses all of his energy on promoting Buddhism.
Shinbo Joe Hall
oe Hall is Tanto (practice leader) at Jikoji Zen Center. His energy is enthusiastically focused on the nexus between Lay Practice and the Monastic world and he is fascinated by the ways in which we interpret the world and the means by which physical motion trains the mind. He wakes up in the morning excited to witness the ongoing birth of American Zen. His favorite words are Sublime, Exquisite, and Ravissant.
Angie Boissevain
Angie studied with Kobun while she was raising three sons, being a wife and writing poetry.He called her the enlightened housewife. During the last thirty-plus years of her practice with him she served as a teacher and director at Jikoji, a retreat center she helped to establish for Kobun in the Santa Cruz mountains.
Ian Forsberg
Ian Hakuryu Forsberg began zazen practice in his teens and was ordained by Kobun at Haiku Zendo in 1977. Ian practiced with Kobun and the Sangha in California at Haiku Zendo, Hidden Villa Ranch and later at Jikoji. In 1987 he went to Taos for three months to help build Hokoji Zen Center and never did leave. Ian is now the Resident Teacher at Hokoji and builds homes in Taos.