Simplicity Zen Podcast

An interview with Rinzai priest and Zen teacher Sozui Schubert.Sozui Schubert is the teacher at Hidden Valley Zen Center in San Marcos California.  She was ordained by legendary Zen Mater Shodo Harada Roshi and studied with him for decades at Sogen-ji, his monastery in Okayama, Japan.  At the instructions of of her teacher, she has helped establish practice communities Hungary, Germany, Latvia, Italy, and Russia.  She will be among the first to officially inherit Harada Roshi lineage in early 2024.Hidden Valley Zen Center:https://staging.hvzc.org/Simplicity Zen Podcast:https://simplicityzen.com/

Rafe Jnan Martin began Zen practice in 1970 and is a lay transmitted koan teacher who received Inka from Danan Henry Roshi in 2012.  In 2016 Rafe received Full Dharma Transmission as an independent teacher and Dharma Heir of Danan Henry Roshi. He has been a student of various teachers in the Harada/Yasutani line including  Danan Henry Roshi, Philip Kapleau Roshi and Robert Aitken Roshi. Rafe is the founder and head teacher of the Endless Path Zendo in Rochester New York. Rafe also has a master’s degree in English literature and literary criticism and is an award-winning author and storyteller.https://www.endlesspathzendo.org/index.htmlhttps://sumeru-books.com/products/a-zen-life-of-buddhaSimplicity Zen Podcast:https://simplicityzen.com/

An interview discussion that explores the science of Zen.Neil Schmitzer-Torbert is a Professor of  Psychology at Wabash College in Crawfordsville, IN where he teaches courses and conducts research on memory and learning.  He is a Zen practitioner and runs a website called the "Neural Buddhist" which explores the intersection of Zen and neuroscience.https://neuralbuddhist.com/https://scienceofzen.org/Zen Podcast:https://simplicityzen.com/

Heather Shoren Iarusso is currently the director and head of practice for San Francisco Zen Center’s online practice center.  She moved to Tassajara in 2008 where she lived for a total of seven years while completing twelve, 90-day practice periods.  At Tassajara she served such roles as Ino (head of the meditation hall), Tenzo (Head Cook), Shika (Guest Manager), and the Shuso (Head Student). Heather was ordained as a Zen Priest in October 2015 by Teah Strozer, who served as the guiding teacher for Brooklyn Zen Center (BZC) for many years. Heather worked at BZC for two years as the Ino (Head of Meditation Hall), program director, communications coordinator, and the interim executive director.  Heather received dharma transmission in September 2022.Spark Zen:https://sparkzen.substack.com/Simplicity Zen Pocast:https://simplicityzen.com/

Mark Doyu Albin was a longtime student of the legendary Rinzai Zen Master Shodo Harada Roshi in Japan.  After a long period of monastic Zen practice he is now practicing as a shiatsu therapist, meditation guide, mentor, and translator. Mark lives in Southern Germany.https://www.markalbin.com/en/https://simplicityzen.com/

Jiryu Rutschman-Byler, a Soto Zen priest who trained in the US and Japan and wrote Two Shores of Zen, shares stories of monastic practice, cross-cultural training, and teaching in prisons and Colombia. He talks about intense sesshin experiences, risks of seeking breakthroughs, integrating discipline with compassion, and how deep practice can happen in any life.

Tim Ryuko Langdell is a board-certified hospice chaplain and is both the head priest and guiding teacher at the StillCenter Zen Center in Pasadena, California.His dharma name, Ryuko, means “Dragon Tiger.”  He holds an Master of Divinity from Claremont School of Theology and a Ph.D. in Psychology from University College London.  He is an author of several books, including “Beginner’s Mind: An Introduction to Zen Buddhism,” and “Christ Way, Buddha Way: Jesus as Wisdom Teacher and a Zen Perspective on His Teachings.” He has transmission to teach Zen multiple lineages including Clear Mind Zen (which is part of Japanese Soto lineage),  Korean Zen and Vietnamese Zen traditions.  Additionally, he was recently made an Assistant Zen teacher in the Open Mind Zen school which is in the White Plum tradition.https://www.timlangdell.com/Simplicity Zen Podcast:https://simplicityzen.com/

Mary Mocine is the founder of and head priest at Clear Water Zendo in Vallejo California.  She was priest ordained by Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1994, was Shuso (or head student) at Tassajara monastery in 1998 and received Dharma Transmission in 2005.  She practiced professionally as a lawyer and has offered mindfulness retreats at Tassajara and at Spirit Rock for attorneys. She has also led a dharma support group for lawyers for many years. More about Mary:- https://clearwaterzen.org/About the Simplicity Zen Podcast:- https://simplicityzen.com/

A wide-ranging conversation about a lay-focused Chan center: its location, funding story, programs, and plans for intergenerational residency. Deep dives into silent illumination, hua tou practice, and differences between gradual and sudden awakening. Discussions on lineage, inka versus institutional transmission, monastic precepts, and Dharma relief projects supporting community and refugees.

Yujiro Seki is the director, cinematographer and editor of the upcoming documentary titled “Carving the Divine - Buddhist Sculptors of Japan” which explores the ancient practice of wood carving Buddhist statues in Japan called Busshi. Today Yujiro is launching a crowdfunding campaign to fund the release of this film to the general public.  I was able to watch a early viewing of this documentary and was very impressed.  It shows a side of traditional Japanese apprenticeship training that is disappearing even in Japan itself.  I warmly encourage you to join me in donating to this campaign. https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/carving-the-divine-documentary-distribution