Berkeley Zen Center (BZC), official temple name , is a residential Sōtō Zen Buddhist practice centre located in Berkeley, California which has been led since 2024 by Shinchi Linda Galijan and Zenshin Greg Fain.
Founded as an affiliate temple of San Francisco Zen Center in 1967 in a house on Dwight Way by Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman and Shōgaku Shunryu Suzuki,Dimidjian, 137 Weitsman became BZC's abbot in 1985 after receiving Dharma transmission from Suzuki's son Hoitsu Suzuki.Gach, 230 Weitsman's Dharma heir Hozan Alan Senauke took over as abbot in 2021, living on-site with his wife and fellow ordained Zen priest Laurie Senauke until his death in 2024.Prebish, 108
In 1979, BZC relocated to a dedicated temple on Russell Street which houses resident priests, students and lay practitioners. BZC has an active community and a full schedule of zen service, student talks, dharma talks, and zazen.
Notable people Zenkei Blanche Hartman began sitting zazen in 1969, receiving Dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1988.
Kushin Seisho Maylie Scott taught at the center after received Dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1998.Queen, 266
Gallery
See also Buddhism in the United States Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
Notes
References