Raphael Olivier is a French-born composer, singer/songwriter, guitarist and author, blending influences at the crossroads of folk, jazz, indie, electro and classical music. A graduate of the Paris National Superior Conservatory, he’s performed in such venues as the Chicago Symphony, Lincoln Hall, Paris Philharmonic, Brussels Botanique and Torino Classical Festival. As a composer, Raphael has a published portfolio of over 250 tracks, and collaborations with over 100 studios and TV networks.
Now based at Rinzai-Ji in Los Angeles, he is working on a debut novel, and new music, incorporating his experience as a buddhist practitioner.

Designer of the Unified Mindfulness Teacher Training, Julianna Raye is devoted to deepening people’s ability to practice and understand research-supported mindfulness and to empowering anyone to guide others in its practice. She has been training individuals and groups in the Unified Mindfulness system for over two decades.

Kaizan Doug Jacobson began practicing Zen in 1974 with Dainin Katagiri Roshi in Minneapolis; he had Jukai in 1977. He has led many sesshins, monthly zazenkais, periodic seasonal nature sesshins, and weekly dharma discussion groups. Doug is a Zen Priest and guiding teacher specializing in the “Everyone is a Buddha” path. For many years he has supported inmates through his prison chaplaincy and ministry.

Laurie Senauke has been a resident at Berkeley Zen Center since 1989. She was a lay teacher for many years, and then in 2018 she ordained as a priest with Steve Weintraub, and received dharma transmission from him in 2021. She was married to BZC's abbot, Hozan Alan Senauke, until his death in December 2024.

When Tim Kennedy retired from professional practice and teaching Landscape Architecture and Urban Design, he turned to Landscape Painting as a daily practice. Minnesota Zen Meditation Center and Santa Barbara Zen Center have been integral as sanghas in the formation of his meditation practice.. Jikoji and Hokyoji monasteries have been places of refuge for sesshin and retreat. In September 2023 he received Jukai from his teacher Tim Burkett who gave him the Dharma name Ensō.

Carolyn Hoshin Jikai Dille has been a dedicated student of Buddhist practices for over 35 years in the Soto Zen, Early Buddhist, Insight, and Tibetan traditions. She has studied intensively with several teachers in the United States and Asia and has taught in dharma communities since 1996. She carries dharma transmission from Angie Enji Boissevain and is a graduate of Spirit Rock’s CDL program. She is a poet, writer, and editor and has presented and facilitated Dharma and Art retreats and seminars for over 23 years for Insight Meditation Center and Insight Santa Cruz in California and the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Massachusetts. She currently serves as a Guiding Teacher for the Floating Zendo online in San Jose.

Chōbun Nenzen Pamela Brown was introduced to sitting meditation practice in 1976. Forty years later, she decided to sit down again and stay seated. In 2017, Pamela met Sensei Gary Koan Janka, who gave her the Bodhisattba Precepts. Koan Sensei later introduced Nenzen to Jikoji where she was priest ordained in Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi's lineage by Shoho Michael Newhall in 2020. She received dharma transmission from Jakko Eso Vanja Palmers at Felsentor, Switzerland in 2022. Nenzen serves as the Abiding Teacher at Jikoji.

Bill Powell will lead a talk and discussion of Dogen's ''THIS VERY BODY IS THE BUDDHA”

Bill Powell will lead a talk and discussion of Dogen's ''THIS VERY BODY IS THE BUDDHA”

Ben Connelly is a Soto Zen teacher and Dharma heir in the Katagiri lineage. He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts and brings his practice to climate and justice activism. Ben is based at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, travels to teach across the United States, writes for Tricycle and Lion's Roar magazines, and is author of five books for Wisdom Publications including: Inside the Grass Hut, Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara, and Mindfulness and Intimacy.

Chris (Myokan Daisho) has been a student of Myokaku Jane Schneider and her late husband Peter since 2010. In 2023, Jane ordained Chris as a priest. He has practiced a bit at Tassajara, but most of his time as a zen student has been in the dusty world; in Los Angeles as a would-be actor, in San Diego as a sailor in the US Navy, and now in San Luis Obispo as a nuclear maintenance technician. But always a zen beginner.

Rev. Taishin Michael Augustin is a Soto Zen Buddhist Priest in the lineage of Kobun Chino Otogawa. He lives in Milwaukee, WI.

Karen DeCotis is a transmitted priest in the Suzuki Roshi Soto lineage. Her teacher is Sojun Mel Weitsman. She has practiced at San Francisco Zen Center, Berkeley Zen Center, Bozeman Zen Group and is currently the Guiding Teacher at the San Antonio Zen Center.

Alan, a native of Ireland, now living in Oakland, California, was drawn to Zen by its message of intrinsic wholeness, its Taoist roots, and its simplicity. He began zazen practice at home in the mid 1990s, and started formal Zen practice in 1999. He subsequently practiced for several years in the Tibetan Buddhist Gelug tradition under Panchen Otrul Rinpoche with whom he formally took refuge/jukai in 2000. He traveled to hear teachings by HH the Dalai Lama in India and Europe during this period, and also acted as the Buddhist representative for various Irish interfaith gatherings. He returned to formal Zen practice in 2014, connected with Tim Burkett in 2017, and was ordained as a priest by Tim in 2019. 

We're pleased to announce a special training session on zendo roles and etiquette, perfect for both newcomers and regular practitioners looking to deepen their understanding of Zen forms and service participation.
What to expect:

• Doan role training led by Bob Nyosui Sedivy

• Zendo etiquette instruction by Jo Ei and Kenkō

• Learn about proper forms for entering the zendo, bowing, kinhin (walking meditation), and more

• Hands-on practice with service instruments and roles

• An opportunity to ask questions about our liturgical practices

Charlie Korin Pokorny was ordained as a priest by Reb Anderson in 1999 and received dharma transmission in 2018. He practiced as a resident at Tassajara and Green Gulch Farm and studied koans with Daniel Terragno. Charlie and his partner Sarah served as head priests at Stone Creek Zen Center 2014-2022 and they are currently dharma teachers at Brooklyn Zen Center. Charlie also teaches courses through the Institute of Buddhist Studies in Berkeley.

At 11:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 9, ZCLA will hold the 49th Day Memorial Service for Sensei Gary Koan Myogen Janka.
Feel free to join ZCLA in person or via ZCLA Zoom.
Recording of the Memorial Service will be posted in newsletter later.

Officiant: Roshi Mark Shogen Bloodgood

Jo Ei is a long time zen practitioner attending his first retreat at Zen Mountain Monastery in the mid 1990's. Since 2000 he has been involved with different manifestations of zen practice in Northampton, MA in association with the Village Zendo in NYC. Most recently he has been the Liturgy Master and treasurer for Northampton's Oxbow Zen sangha.

Meido is the Guiding Teacher at O-An Zendo, a Soto Zen temple in Central Pennsylvania. She received Transmission in the Kobun Chino Lineage.

Kenkō took Jukai in 2005 with Enkyo Roshi at the Village Zendo in NYC and served as Shuso with Anraku Sensei in June 2011. It's a great joy to return to SBZC after shared practice in 2012 and 2019! He currently deepens his practice with the Village Zendo community and teachers, as well as the Oxbow Zen Sangha in Northampton MA, where he lives. Kenkō recently retired from teaching mathematics and mathematics education at Westfield State University.

Bill Powell will lead a reading and discussion of Red Pine's Heart Sutra commentary on Sunday January 26th at 10am. This introduction will help demystify this important text that we chant regularly.

Santa Barbara Zen Center is happy to welcome back Ben Connelly as our guest teacher.

Ben will share teachings from his new book, Vasubandhu's "Three Natures": A Practitioner's Guide for Liberation, which shows the power of integrating early Buddhist psychology with the Mahayana emphasis on collective liberation.

Seishi Tetsudo Ross Blum will be joining us for a Dharma Talk during our meeting on Sunday via Zoom.