Lay Zen Teachers Association

2012 Lay Zen Teachers Association participants in New Orleans

Dear Sangha and friends-

As many of you know, Flint and I have just returned from the third annual meeting of the Lay Zen Teachers Association, which was held in New Orleans from January 13-15. This association is for recognized Zen teachers who are committed to supporting Zen practice for lay students. The meeting this year hosted about 23 Zen teachers, many of whom are well known in the Zen world as teachers and authors. It was an extremely productive and heartening meeting, with strong interest and support for the creative and innovative offerings at Appamada. 

Flint was the co-facilitator, as last year, with Debra Seido Martin. The group was able to approve both the mission statement drafted over the past year, and membership criteria for the organization. We established a steering committee and a membership committee, and set next year’s meeting for the Garrison Institute in New York. We will also develop a directory of LZTA centers and teachers hospitable to lay visitors and students, for pilgrimages, study, training, and retreats. We had many warm, inspiring, and productive conversations with participants, both in small group work, large group discussion, and informal times together. We enjoyed hearing about other centers, sharing what we do, and learning from each other. 

The mission statement approved by vote of the members:

For Zen Buddhism to flourish in modern society, its practice must not only be deeply informed by tradition, but must also develop forms which fully realize,express, and transmit the Dharma in lay practice.

To that end, the Lay Zen Teachers Association is a sangha specifically for lay teachers: those who have been formally entrusted to teach in their respective Zen lineages and who have chosen to teach not as priests but as lay people.

The LZTA's purposes are:

• To offer peer support and opportunities for lay Zen teachers to share their understanding and skillful means with each other.
• To develop forms which fully realize, express and transmit the Dharma in lay practice, while maintaining and respecting those traditions compatible with lay teaching and lay life.
• To foster dialogue and interaction among ourselves and with other teachers and lineages, as we clarify the meaning and roles of laypeople, priests, and monks within contemporary Western Buddhism.
• To facilitate educational activities relevant to issues that arise in the teaching and practice of Zen in lay settings.

Peg was named to the membership committee. The group as a whole voted unanimously to establish these membership criteria:

LZTA membership is open to an applicant who

1. Is formally recognized as a Zen teacher by a teacher who has been so recognized;
2. Would give dharma transmission or entrustment to a lay person, if so authorized;
3. Has lay practice as his or her focus in teaching and who does not offer priest or monastic training;
4. Primarily identifies him or herself as a lay person;
5. Supports the mission statement of LZTA.

There will also be a Friends category: recognized Zen teachers who are nonmembers and who support the mission of LZTA.

Here is a list of the Zen teachers who attended the meeting:

Gregory Abels

Janet Abels

Pat Jikyo George

Barbara Joshin O'hara 

Bob Meikyo

Robert Rosenbaum

Barry Magid

Sallie Jiko Tisdale

Larry Trussel

Annie Pirruccello

Al Fushio Rappaport

Peter Levitt

Debra Seido Martin

Tony Bland

Flint Sparks

Peg Syverson

Barbara Joshin O'hara 

Eve Marko

Marc Poirier

Karen Terzano

Ryodo Hawley

Claire Slemmer

Sue Moon