Retreat Schedule and Speakers (Fall 2023)

Friday 9/29 700pm ET

“Freedom, Matsuoka Style”

Tesshin James Smith, Sensei

Tesshin is a transmitted priest of the Matsuoka lineage who has been training in Zen since 1978 under the guidance of Rev. Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston Roshi. 

My talk will focus on O-Sensei’s teaching from the Zen Ethics and Virtue section of The Kyosaku titled “To Attain Freedom” from May 31, 1964.

Saturday 9/30 700pm ET

“Matsuoka Roshi, History & Wisdom”

Zenku Jerry Smyers, Sensei

Zenku Jerry Smyers is a Soto Zen Priest in the Lineages of Soyu Matsuoka Roshi and Shohaku Okumura Roshi. Zenku began his training as a disciple of Kongo Langlois Roshi, Abbot of the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago (ZBTC), and a dharma-heir of Matsuoka Roshi, in 1976. Zenku trained at the Zen Buddhist Temple of Chicago and was ordained a Zen Priest in 1982. Zenku was a Priest in Chicago until 2005, assisting Kongo Roshi until his passing in 1999, and then providing Temple leadership. In 2005, Zenku moved to Montana and established the Mission Mountain Zen Group in Dayton Montana. In 2010 Zenku became a disciple of Taiun Elliston Roshi. In 2012, Zenku received dharma transmission from Taiun Roshi. Zenku is a full member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA).

Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston, Abbot (Hojo)

Taiun Roshi’s involvement with Zen began in 1965 when he met Matsuoka Roshi, founder and head teacher of the ZBTC.  After two years of training under Matsuoka Roshi’s supervision and at his suggestion, he underwent a combined initiation and discipleship ceremony, and was given his first dharma name, Taiun, “Great Cloud.” 

Taiun Roshi was registered with the Soto Shu in Japan July 13, 1969 (Priesthood Register No. 164, Soto Zen Headquarters, Tokyo, Japan) and ordained as a Zen Priest March 22, 1970.  He continued his duties at ZBTC until 1970, when he moved to Atlanta, the same year that Matsuoka Roshi moved to Long Beach, leaving Kongo Roshi in charge of ZBTC. In the early 1970s Hojo began offering Zen meditation and teaching at the Cliff Valley Way UU Church of Atlanta. In 1977 he founded the Atlanta Soto Zen Center (ASZC).  Matsuoka Roshi presented the title of “roshi”, which he called “the P.H.D. of Zen” to Hojo in a special ceremony at ASZC on September 20, 1983.

Hojo completed “Shuso” (head student) training and precepts ceremony with Seirin Barbara Kohn of Austin Zen Center (Suzuki lineage). He completed Transmission (Shiho) ceremony with Shohaku Okumura (Sawaki-Uchiyama lineage) in August of 2007. Taiun Roshi is a full member of SZBA.