In memory of Shin Getsu Fern and Hogaku Ken McGuire
I have more sad news for the mahasangha today, I’m afraid. I just received word from Harvey Daiho Hilbert about the deaths of husband and wife Zen teachers, Shin Getsu Fern McGuire and Hogaku Ken...
View ArticleZen Buddhist Temple in Pennsylvania Endangered by Natural Gas Fracking
An Open Letter to the American Buddhist Community is located in the small rural village of Pennsdale in central Pennsylvania, twenty minutes from Williamsport, now called the “Dallas of the north,”...
View ArticleSexual controversy surrounds Open Mind Zen
We’re back again with that old persistent problem: Another Zen teacher stands accused of sexual misconduct. This isn’t a story I particularly want to write, truth be told. When the first email message...
View ArticleUPDATE: Daeung Sunim’s Journey of Spirit (Video)
I talked to Dave Pope today about what’s going on with Daeung Sunim, the Korean Zen monk who is biking across the Americas. With some 8,000 miles behind him already, he’ll be entering the state of...
View ArticleThe Collected Works of Korean Buddhism available for free online
In July, the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism published the 13-volume series titled The Collected Works of Korean Buddhism in English. While the physical set is currently not available for purchase, you...
View ArticleSept. 5 – Roundtable Discussion: Misconduct and Abuse by Buddhist Leaders
The Faith Trust Institute has announced that they will be holding a free webinar on September 5, 2012 from 11 AM to 12 PM PT (GMT: -7:00) on the topic of Misconduct and Abuse by Buddhist Leaders....
View ArticleSanta Fe, you’ve got yourselves a new Zen group!
It’s always fun to report on news of this variety. A new Zen group has formed in Santa Fe, New Mexico — The Santa Fe Zen Group led by Zen teacher Henry Ryu’un-Ken Shukman in the Sanbo-Kyodan tradition....
View ArticleFed-Ex letter from Ken McLeod’s attorney
On Friday afternoon, I received the following letter via Fed-Ex from Robert N. Conrad, an attorney representing Ken McLeod of Unfettered Mind. DOWNLOAD PDF OF THIS LETTER (right click, select “Save...
View ArticleUPDATE: Eido Shimano NOT to lead sesshin at Providence Zen Center in 2013
UPDATED October 5, 2012 The Kwan Um School of Zen has offered an official statement on the matter of Eido Shimano booking a rental at their Diamond Hill Zen monastery in 2013. We are happy to announce...
View ArticleTova Green of the SFZC profiled in J. the Jewish news weekly of Northern...
San Francisco Zen Center director Tova Green was profiled today by J. the Jewish news weekly of Northern California. In it, Green discusses her relationship to Zen practice and Jewish faith, pointing...
View ArticleSokuzan Bob Brown featured in the BattleCreek Enquirer
Sokuzan Bob Brown, a student of the late Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and Kobun Chino Otogawa roshi, took time recently to speak with reporter Chuck Carlson with the BattleCreek Enquirer. The 71 year-old...
View ArticleInterview with Daeung Sunim (Video)
Here is a video interview I recently did with Daeung Sunim, the Korean Buddhist monk on a journey by bike across the Americas. I had the wonderful opportunity to host this sweetheart of a man. As he...
View ArticleBOOK REVIEW for I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen
David Kinchen of Huntington News recently reviewed the book I’m Your Man: The Life of Leonard Cohen by Sylvie Simmons, which hit book stores this year. Kinchen concludes his review with the following:...
View ArticleMazie Hirano the first Buddhist elected to the U.S. Senate
In a historic win, Democrat Mazie Hirano of Hawaii became the first Buddhist to ever be elected to the United States Senate. Hirano, a native of Japan, is a practitioner of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism, a...
View ArticleSame website, new look
Hey everyone! Just a quick note that we’ve changed the look and organizational structure of the website, though it’s the same great place it always was. We hope that you’ll find it easier to get around...
View ArticleThe Religious Studies Project podcast: Brian Victoria on Zen Buddhist...
“What I call the bright side of religion, there’s no real reason for us to be too concerned about the bright side because — it’s bright. But, it’s the dark side of religion that I think we need to be...
View ArticleIn loving memory of Katherine Sobun Thanas, Roshi
Kind. Considerate. Radiant. Playful. These are words people used to describe Katherine Sobun Thanas when I told them I’d be doing this piece on her. Katherine passed away at 9:45 this morning at the...
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