Mel Weitsman


Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman, born Mel Weitsman, was an American Buddhist who was the founder, abbot and guiding teacher of Berkeley Zen Center located in Berkeley, California. Weitsman was a Sōtō Zen roshi practicing in the lineage of Shunryū Suzuki, having received Dharma transmission in 1984 from Suzuki's son Hoitsu. He was also a co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, where he served from 1988 to 1997. Weitsman was also editor of the book Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai, based on talks given by Suzuki on the Sandokai.

Biography

Mel Weitsman was born in southern California in 1929, to Edward Weitsman and Leah Rosenberg Weitsman. After exploring Jewish spirituality as an adolescent and young adult, he started practicing at the San Francisco Zen Center under Shunryū Suzuki in 1964. He co-founded the Berkeley Zen Center with his teacher in 1967. Suzuki ordained Weitsman as a priest in 1969, and arranged for him to be Shuso in 1970 under Tatsugami Roshi at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. His other teachers included Dainin Katagiri Roshi, Kōbun Chino Roshi, Ryogen Yoshimura and Kazuaki Tanahashi, with whom he has often worked on translations of Zen texts. In 1984, Weitsman received Dharma transmission from Suzuki Roshi's son and Dharma Heir, Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi, Abbot of Rinso-In Temple in Yaizu, Japan. Installed as Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center in 1985, he later was invited to lead San Francisco Zen Center as co-abbot with Tenshin Reb Anderson from 1988 to 1997, following the eviction of Zen Center's previous abbot, Zentatsu Richard Baker, because of sexual scandal and allegations of financial wrongdoing. He co-founded the American Zen Teachers Association with senior American Dharma teachers Tetsugen Bernard Glassman, Dennis Genpo Merzel and Keido Les Kaye in 1995. Weitsman has entrusted the Dharma to over twenty individuals, including Zenkei Blanche Hartman and Zoketsu Norman Fischer.

Lineage

  1. Josho Pat Phelan
  2. Mary Mocine
  3. Myoan Grace Schireson
  4. # Jane Myokaku Schneider
  5. # Myosho Baika Andrea Pratt
  6. Shinshu Roberts
  7. Daijaku Judith Kinst
  8. Soshin Teah Strozer
  9. Chikudo Lew Richmond
Höshō Peter Coyote
Kyosaku Richard Laubly
Haku-un David Brazier
  1. 2002 Peter Yozen Schneider
  2. Shosan Victoria Austin
  3. Dairyu Michael Wenger
  4. # Darlene Su Rei Cohen
  5. ## Susan Ji-On Postal
  6. ### Myozan Dennis Keegan
  7. ## Horyu Ryotan Cynthia Kear
  8. ## Sarita Tamayo-Moraga
  9. # Mark Lancaster
  10. Hozan Alan Senauke
  11. Maylie Scott
  12. Fran Tribe
  13. Gil Fronsdal
  14. Edward Espe Brown
  15. Ryushin Paul Haller
  16. Myogen Steve Stucky
  17. Steve Weintraub
  18. Zoketsu Norman Fischer
  19. # Do-An Robert Thomas
  20. # Shokan Jordan Thorn
  21. # Ingen Breen
  22. # Bruce Fortin
  23. # Arlene Lueck
  24. # Daigan Lueck
  25. # Shinko Rick Slone
  26. # Gloria Ann Lee
  27. # Myphon Hunt retired
  28. # Gyokujun Teishin Layla Smith
  29. Zenkei Blanche Hartman
  30. # Kosho McCall
  31. # Seirin Barbara Kohn retired
  32. # Gengetsu Jana Drakka
  33. # John Daniel King
  34. # Ryumon Hilda Guitierrez Baldoquin

    Written references

Web-references