The Rochester Zen Center (RZC) is a
Sōtō
Sōtō Zen or is the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (the others being Rinzai and Ōbaku). It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Cáodòng school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty by Dòngshān L ...
and
Rinzai
The Rinzai school ( ja, , Rinzai-shū, zh, t=臨濟宗, s=临济宗, p=Línjì zōng) is one of three sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism (along with Sōtō and Ōbaku). The Chinese Linji school of Chan was first transmitted to Japan by Myōan E ...
Zen Buddhist sangha in the Kapleau lineage, located in
Rochester, New York
Rochester () is a City (New York), city in the U.S. state of New York (state), New York, the county seat, seat of Monroe County, New York, Monroe County, and the fourth-most populous in the state after New York City, Buffalo, New York, Buffalo, ...
and established in 1966 by
Philip Kapleau
Philip Kapleau (August 20, 1912 – May 6, 2004) was an American teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition, a blending of Japanese Sōtō and Rinzai schools. He also advocated strongly for Buddhist vegetarianism.
Early life
Kapleau wa ...
. It is one of the oldest Zen centers in the United States.
History
Since its founding, the Rochester Zen Center has become one of the largest Buddhist centers in North America. From those first twenty-two individuals, membership has grown to more than six hundred, with sitting groups and affiliate centers in Mexico and Germany, and throughout the U.S. In 1981 Rochester Zen Center community split, when
Toni Packer
Toni Packer (April, 1927 – August 23, 2013) was a teacher of "meditative inquiry", and the founder of Springwater Center. Packer was a former student in the Sanbo Kyodan lineage of Zen Buddhism, and was previously in line to be the successor of ...
left the Center to form the
Springwater Center, located an hour south of Rochester.
The Rochester Zen Center has also contributed to the intellectual development of American Zen, through
Philip Kapleau
Philip Kapleau (August 20, 1912 – May 6, 2004) was an American teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition, a blending of Japanese Sōtō and Rinzai schools. He also advocated strongly for Buddhist vegetarianism.
Early life
Kapleau wa ...
's books, ''The Zen of Living and Dying'', ''Zen Merging of East and West'', ''To Cherish All Life'', and the recent ''Awakening to Zen'' and the writings of its members and its decennial anniversary conferences. In 1986, the 20th Anniversary Conference focused on "Buddhism and Nonviolence," and the 1996 Thirtieth Anniversary explored "Buddhism in America."
Since 1986 the head
abbot
Abbot is an ecclesiastical title given to the male head of a monastery in various Western religious traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not the head of a monastery. The fem ...
at Rochester Zen Center has been
Bodhin Kjolhede
Bodhin Kjolhede (born 1948) is a Sōtō/Rinzai Zen Rōshi, roshi and Abbot of the Rochester Zen Center (RZC), a position he assumed when Philip Kapleau retired from teaching in 1986.Ford, 159 He was ordained as a priest in 1976 and received Dhar ...
, who was sanctioned to teach by Kapleau. The community offers intensive Zen
sesshin
A ''sesshin'' (接心, or also 摂心/攝心 literally "touching the heart-mind") is a period of intensive meditation (zazen) in a Zen monastery.
While the daily routine in the monastery requires the monks to meditate several hours a day, duri ...
retreats, introductory workshops and training programs throughout the year and is open to guests.
File:RZC Zendo 1.JPG
File:RZC Library.JPG
File:Rochester Zen Center garden facing universal buddha.JPG
File:Rochester Zen Center fall buddha07.jpg
File:RZC front Sign.JPG
Chapin Mill Buddhist Retreat
The Rochester Zen Center also has a country retreat named Chapin Mill, donated by Ralph Chapin. Each year the center has several sesshin at Chapin Mill. The retreat center held a groundbreaking in April 2000. Building began in 2003, and was completed in 2007.
Image:CM Dining hall.JPG, Dining hall facing kitchen.
File:Chapin Mill zendo carved entrance door.jpg, Carved zendo door
Image:Kannon room.JPG, Kannon Room
Image:CM Hall Enso.JPG, Facing enso, zendo on right carved door on left.
Notable residents
*
Weezer
Weezer is an American rock band formed in Los Angeles, California, in 1992. Since 2001, the band has consisted of Rivers Cuomo (vocals, guitar, keyboards), Patrick Wilson (drums, backing vocals), Scott Shriner (bass guitar, keyboards, backing v ...
frontman
Rivers Cuomo
Rivers Cuomo ( ; born June 13, 1970) is an American musician. He is the lead vocalist, guitarist, pianist, and songwriter of the rock band Weezer.
Cuomo was raised in a number of Buddhist communities in the Northeast U.S. until the age of 10, wh ...
was raised at the Rochester Zen Center until he was approximately 5 years old.
See also
*
Philip Kapleau
Philip Kapleau (August 20, 1912 – May 6, 2004) was an American teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition, a blending of Japanese Sōtō and Rinzai schools. He also advocated strongly for Buddhist vegetarianism.
Early life
Kapleau wa ...
*
Bodhin Kjolhede
Bodhin Kjolhede (born 1948) is a Sōtō/Rinzai Zen Rōshi, roshi and Abbot of the Rochester Zen Center (RZC), a position he assumed when Philip Kapleau retired from teaching in 1986.Ford, 159 He was ordained as a priest in 1976 and received Dhar ...
*
Chester Carlson
Chester Floyd Carlson (February 8, 1906 – September 19, 1968) was an American physicist, inventor, and patent attorney born in Seattle, Washington.
Carlson invented electrophotography, the process used by millions of photocopiers worldwide. Ca ...
*
Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
Below is a timeline of important events regarding Zen Buddhism in the United States. Dates with "?" are approximate.
Events
Early history
* 1893: Soyen Shaku comes to the United States to lecture at the World Parliament of Religions held in C ...
References
Sources
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External links
Rochester Zen Center
{{Coord, 43, 09, 09.5, N, 77, 35, 24, W, region:US-NY_type:landmark, display=title
Buddhist temples in New York (state)
Religious buildings and structures in Rochester, New York
Japanese-American culture in New York (state)
Zen centers in New York (state)