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.
At 18, Ying arrived in the U.S from China. Now she leads design efforts for emerging markets at LinkedIn. She’s also a translator and interpreter, and an experiential and outdoor educator. She has traveled to five continents and 30 countries, always affirmed by people's relationship with the environment they live in--their creativity and spirituality in everyday life. At a young age she envisioned a world without borders and is constantly inspired by the next generation of global citizens and their steady movement toward connection.
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.
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.
After meeting Kobun Chino Roshi in Austria, Shoho received priest ordination in 2000 from Vanja Palmers and traveled to US/Tassajara to receive training. Having studied at all three centers of the SFZC, Shoho became resident of Jikoji in 2009. By 2010 she moved to join her partner Kokyo's life in Santa Cruz. Since then she picked up training in the Tibetan Nyingma tradition, which also led her to study in Nepal, where she recently finished studies Buddhism at the Rangjung Yeshe Institute, and stayed to assist in recovery efforts after a devastating earthquake.
Val Szymanski is the founding teacher of Bamboo in the Wind, a Zen practice group that meets in Sunnyvale. She was ordained by Diane Martin in the Danin Katagiri Roshi lineage. Reverend Val is an esteemed calligrapher and offers calligraphy workshops, as well as dharma studies. For more information about Bamboo in the Wind, go to: www.bamboointhewind.org.
Cliff Isberg likes to talk about zen practice from the perspectives of science and of western monastic and biblical traditions. At 80, and after almost 50 years of practice, he should know better. Cliff collects and maintains an online archive of the teachings of Jikoji's founder, Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi. He also serves as Jikoji's administration oversight manager (aOM).
Many years ago, Peter Szydlowski was ordained as a Zen Priest by Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi at Jikoji. On those infrequent occasions when he is due to talk at a Sunday program or sesshin, he tends to focus on zazen, "just sitting", presence, and/or silence. He usually works outdoor kinhin into the schedule--he was, after all, a National Park ranger for 16 years. He is still an avid hiker and traveler, "grampa" of five, and past Jikoji board president.
At 18, Ying arrived in the U.S from China. Now she leads design efforts for emerging markets at LinkedIn. She’s also a translator and interpreter, and an experiential and outdoor educator. She has traveled to five continents and 30 countries, always affirmed by people's relationship with the environment they live in--their creativity and spirituality in everyday life. At a young age she envisioned a world without borders and is constantly inspired by the next generation of global citizens and their steady movement toward connection.
Junsei Jana Drakka runs a 'street ministry' - popularly known as 'The Zendo Without Walls'- taking the Dharma teachings of loving kindness and total acceptance out of the temples and into the streets. Teaching in shelters, hospices and low-income hotels offers the possibility of peace of mind to all without exception. Junsei travels widely sharing 'Harm Reduction Meditation' in universities, zen centers, hospitals and shelters.
Following Tanjo-e sesshin and after Jikoji's winter 2015 Ango practice period, Teachers Ian Forsberg and Michael Newhall will orchestrate a Shuso Ceremony to test the wisdom of Joe Hall, the Shuso. Participants are invited to publicly question the Shuso about the most important dharma issues and problems, as well as the conundrums of daily life and practice.
Tersar Tulku Yingrik Drubpa 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.
Tersar Tulku Yingrik Drubpa 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.
Junsei Jana Drakka runs a 'street ministry' - popularly known as 'The Zendo Without Walls'- taking the Dharma teachings of loving kindness and total acceptance out of the temples and into the streets. Teaching in shelters, hospices and low-income hotels offers the possibility of peace of mind to all without exception. Junsei travels widely sharing 'Harm Reduction Meditation' in universities, zen centers, hospitals and shelters.
After only 40 years of practice, Cliff Isberg, PhD, was ordained by Shoho Michael Newhall as a Soto Zen Buddhist Monk in 2010. A longtime student of Kobun Chino, he sometimes serves as one of Jikoji's oversight managers. Cliff has created and maintains a growing archive of the teachings and life of our founding teacher.
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.
Listen to his Dharma Talk
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.
Her Dharma Talk Sunday February 8
Paula Jones was an early student of Kobun’s and, decades later, was ordained and given transmission by Angie Boissevain. She is a co-founder and teacher of Floating Zendo San Diego. After years of teaching writing and literature in colleges and universities, she continues to write poems, create hand-bound chapbooks of her work and lead poetry workshops.
To listen to her dharma talk, click HERE
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