Sonoma Mountain Zen Center
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Sonoma Mountain Zen Center (or, Genjoji) is a
Soto Zen Soto may refer to: Geography *Soto (Aller), parish in Asturias, Spain * Soto (Las Regueras), parish in Asturias, Spain * Soto, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles *Soto, Russia, a rural locality (a ''selo'') in Megino-Kangalassky District of the Sakha ...
practice center located on in the mountainous region of
Sonoma County Sonoma County () is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 488,863. Its county seat and largest city is Santa Rosa. It is to the north of Marin County and the south of Mendocino ...
in
California California is a state in the Western United States, located along the Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the most populous U.S. state and the 3rd largest by area. It is also the m ...
—near
Santa Rosa Santa Rosa is the Italian, Portuguese and Spanish name for Saint Rose. Santa Rosa may also refer to: Places Argentina * Santa Rosa, Mendoza, a city * Santa Rosa, Tinogasta, Catamarca * Santa Rosa, Valle Viejo, Catamarca *Santa Rosa, La Pampa * S ...
—carrying on the tradition and lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. Founded by
Jakusho Kwong Jakusho Kwong (born November 14, 1935), born William Kwong, is a Chinese-American Zen Buddhist teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. He serves as head abbot of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, of which he is founder. He received the title '' Dend ...
and his wife Laura Kwong in 1973, Kwong- roshi is the current guiding teacher of the Zen center. Offering residential training, Saturday Community and group retreats. Sonoma Mountain Zen Center also offers a practice regimen for members of the surrounding area and elsewhere who are not residents.


About

Sonoma Mountain Zen Center was established by
Jakusho Kwong Jakusho Kwong (born November 14, 1935), born William Kwong, is a Chinese-American Zen Buddhist teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. He serves as head abbot of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, of which he is founder. He received the title '' Dend ...
and his wife Laura Kwong in 1973. According to the book ''Opening the Mountain'', "Bill and Laura Kwong had moved to Mill Valley and began a little 'put away zendo.' It took place in a neighborhood hall. Every morning, mats, cushions, and altar were put away so other uses of the room could happen. In 1973 the Kwongs and their four sons moved one county north. Classes Bill taught at
Sonoma State University Sonoma State University (SSU, Sonoma State, or Sonoma) is a public university in Rohnert Park in Sonoma County, California, US. It is one of the smallest members of the California State University (CSU) system. Sonoma State offers 92 Bachelor's ...
gave birth to Sonoma Mountain Zen Center."Davis, 122-123 A self-sustaining institution, the Zen center supports itself through members donations, proceeds from its Zen Dust bookstore, and by offering rooms for rental. Author Sarah Ban Breathnach described the center in her book ''A Man's Journey to Simple Abundance'': "''Near the top of the mountain, the road dips, bends, then snakes through a small grove of redwoods. The dense tree canopy blocks all ambient light, so that when you emerge on the other side of the grove, you feel as though you've passed through a portal into another world. It's a fitting way to approach Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, because people there view reality just a little bit differently from the way most of us do.''"Ban Breathnach, 83


Gallery

On September 16, 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony took place at Sonoma Mountain Zen Center: File:Sonoma Mountain Zen Center - 02 - Entrance of the abbott.jpg, Entrance of the abbott File:Sonoma Mountain Zen Center - 10 - The shot.jpg, Kyūdō as part of the ceremony File:Sonoma Mountain Zen Center - 11 - The abbot during the ceremony.jpg, The abbott during the ceremony File:Sonoma Mountain Zen Center - 15 - The abbott speaking to the guests.jpg, Speech at the end of the ceremony File:Zen and more 49.jpg, Original Zendo- Sonoma Mountain Zen Center


See also

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Buddhism in the United States The term American Buddhism can be used to describe all Buddhist groups within the United States, including Asian Americans, Asian-American Buddhists born into the faith, who comprise the largest percentage of Buddhists in the country. American Budd ...
*
Sonoma Mountain Sonoma Mountain is a prominent landform within the Sonoma Mountains of southern Sonoma County, California. At an elevation of , Sonoma Mountain offers expansive views of the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Sonoma Valley to the east. In fact, ...
*
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 ...


Notes


References

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External links


Sonoma Mountain Zen Center
Buddhist temples in California Religious buildings and structures in Sonoma County, California Zen centers in California Buddhism in the San Francisco Bay Area {{SonomaCountyCA-struct-stub