Boundless Way Zen Temple Guiding Teachers
Melissa Myōzen Blacker, Rōshi, is a Guiding Teacher of Boundless Way Zen Temple, a Soto Zen priest, and a Dharma heir to James Myōun Ford, Rōshi in two lineages: an ordained Soto transmission through Jiyu Kennett, Rōshi and a lay koan-teaching lineage through John Tarrant, Rōshi. She holds degrees in anthropology, music and counseling psychology. From 1992 to 2012 she was a teacher and director of programs at the Center for Mindfulness, founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Her writing appears in a number of collections including Best Buddhist Writing, 2012, The Hidden Lamp, and Zen Teachings in Challenging Times, and she is co-editor of The Book of Mu: Essential Writings on Zen’s Most Important Koan. Her writing also appears in various Buddhist magazines, including Shambhala Sun, Lion’s Roar and Buddhadharma.
David Dae An Rynick, Rōshi, is a founder and Guiding Teacher of Boundless Way. He received Dharma transmission in both the Korean Rinzai lineage through Zen Master George Bowman and in the Japanese Sōtō lineage through James Ford, Rōshi. He is a member of the American Zen Teachers Association, and the author of Wandering Close to Home: A Year of Zen Reflections, Consolations, and Reveries and This Truth Never Fails: A Memoir in Four Seasons. David is also a life and leadership coach who works with spiritual leaders from many different traditions as well as with individuals seeking to align their lives with their deepest wisdom. More information and his blog can be found at www.davidrynick.com.
Other Boundless Way Zen Temple Transmitted Teachers
Dharma Holder Alan Sanhyō Richardson began his practice of Zen Buddhism in 1973, when he spent a year sitting at the San Francisco Zen Center. In 2007, he joined Boundless Way and has since held a number of service and leadership positions, including serving both as Tenzo and Tanto at sesshin, as Practice Leader of the Henry David Thoreau sangha, and (twice) as President of the Boundless Way Zen Temple Leadership Council. In 2021 he received Dharma Entrustment from his primary teacher, David Rynick, Rōshi, becoming a Dharma Holder in the Boundless Way Zen Temple tradition. Alan has taught English literature for many years at Boston College, with a specialty in poetry. He is the author of numerous academic studies and, most recently, Breakfast with Salamanders: Seasons on the Appalachian Trail, a book that treats of walking, nature, Zen, and section-hiking the “AT.”
Dharma Holder Michael Sōkei Herzog is the Boundless Way Zen Temple Director and resident teacher. He is the Chairperson for both the Temple Samu Committee and the Temple Communications and Technology Committee. Since joining the Temple in 2011, he has held a number of service positions including Tanto at sesshin, and coordinator of the Buddhas Over Worcester garden sculpture exhibit. In 2022 he received Dharma Entrustment from his primary teacher, David Rynick, Rōshi, becoming a Dharma Holder in the Boundless Way Zen Temple tradition. Michael is an artist who works under his dharma name Sokei. His art focuses on the teachings of Zen and can be seen on his website, sokei.xyz.
Dharma Holder Reverend Paul Ryūdō Sōshin Galvin, is a Sōtō Zen priest, dharma heir of Melissa Myōzen Blacker, Rōshi, and founder of Snow Mountain Zen, a Boundless Way Zen Temple practice group. He was exposed to Zen in 1988 and struggled on his own for many years prior to meeting and starting practice with Melissa Rōshi in 2004. Since joining Boundless Way, Paul has held officer positions on the Leadership Council as Vice-President and during Sesshin including Tanto (head seat). He took the Precepts in 2009 and Bodhisattva Ordination in 2014 prior to receiving denkai from Melissa Rōshi in 2024.
Leadership at the Temple
All leaders and teachers of Boundless Way Zen Temple who practice at the Worcester Temple acknowledge that they are ongoing students and that the quality of their leadership derives from the quality of their practice. As ongoing students, each leader and teacher commits to continuing her or his study of the great way, allowing the wisdom of form and emptiness to manifest within and as engaged lives.
A note on the term “Teacher”: In most Zen communities in the West, the term teacher is reserved exclusively for those who have received Dharma transmission, formal sanction as a teacher within a traditional lineage. Boundless Way Zen Temple recognizes that many aspects of teaching are functions genuinely shared by the whole community and not exclusively the work of those who possess formal Dharma transmission. Therefore, the following positions have been created to meet those needs. In order to fulfill our mission to train dharma teachers, the Guiding Teachers may grant incremental levels of teaching permission for maturing practitioners and mentor them in their development. Once on the teaching path, advancement is possible but not guaranteed, and occasionally, teaching permissions before Dharma transmission may be revoked by the Guiding Teachers.
Senior Assistant Teacher
Senior Assistant Teachers share in the spiritual leadership of the community as requested by the Guiding Teachers. In addition to the responsibilities of an Assistant Teacher, a Senior Assistant Teacher may be authorized to give practice interviews.
A Senior Assistant Teacher may not establish personal student-teacher relationships (shoken).
Prerequisites are determined by the Guiding Teachers on a case-by-case basis. But, a Senior Assistant Teacher should have demonstrated maturity in practice, be familiar with BoWZ’s forms, be able to lead by example and otherwise have communication skills. As a general rule a Senior Assistant Teacher should have been practicing Zen for ten years, and must have an understanding of the history and forms of Zen Buddhism.
Tenure: As the Guiding Teachers feel appropriate.
Boundless Way Zen Temple Senior Assistant Teachers:
- Rev. Corwyn Miyagishima
- Esther Sorgenfrei Blom
- Jenny Smith
- Pierce Butler
Assistant Teacher
Assistant Teachers share in the spiritual leadership of the Temple as requested by the guiding teachers. Assistant Teachers introduce BoWZ’s forms and practices in classes and lectures. They may also informally speak with other members of the community about details of practice. They may also give Dharma talks.
An Assistant Teacher may not give formal practice interviews (dokusan) or establish personal student-teacher relationships (shoken).
Prerequisites: Are determined by the Guiding Teachers on a case by case basis. But an Assistant Teacher should have demonstrated maturity in practice, be familiar with BoWZ’s forms, be able to lead by example and otherwise have communication skills. As a general rule an Assistant Teacher should have been practicing Zen for at least five years, and must have an understanding of the history and forms of Zen Buddhism.
Tenure: As the Guiding Teachers feel appropriate.
Boundless Way Zen Temple Assistant Teachers:
- Adam Monty
- Craig Dreeszen
- Rev. David Caruso
- Madhusmita Dhakal
- Steve Garabedian
- Todd Yonkman
Practice Leader
The Practice Leader is responsible for the general direction of a particular group or retreat.
Prerequisites: A practice leader should have demonstrated maturity in her or his practice, be familiar with BoWZ’s forms, be able to lead by example and have communication skills.
Tenure: As the Guiding Teachers feel appropriate.
Boundless Way Zen Temple, Worcester: Adam Monty, Bix Spanierman, Chad Cook, Rev. Corwyn Miyagishima, Dave Linshaw, Deb Haas, Erin Barbour, Jamie Paul, Jenny Smith, Joanne Hart, Lara Nordensen, Madhusmita Dhakal, Matt Haas, Michael Herzog, Rev. Paul Galvin, Ray Demers, Sabrina Mills, Susann Herrmann, Stephen Murphy, and Todd Yonkman
Copenhagen: Esther Sorgenfrei Blom
Islesboro Community Zen (seasonal): Jamie Paul
Northampton:David Caruso, Craig Dreeszen, Steve Garabedian
Pittsburgh: Jenny Smith
Sky Flower Zen: Alan Richardson, Pierce Butler
Snow Mountain Zen: Paul Galvin
Priests
Priests vow to manifest the life of the sangha. Ordination is a commitment not only to Zen and Buddhism, but also to our particular manifestation of the Path within the Boundless Way Zen Temple sangha. This means taking on tasks of support and leadership that can range from shoveling snow at the Temple to being a member of the Leadership Council, from leading a sitting group to being a chaplain in the larger community. An unsui (clouds-and-water) priest may perform all the rites of the Boundless Way, including performing marriages and conducting funerals. An unsui priest may also serve in the larger community in a variety of ministerial capacities.
Prerequisites: See here
Boundless Way Zen Temple Priests:
- Corwyn Miyagishima
- David Caruso
- David Rynick
- Melissa Blacker
- Paul Galvin
- Ray Demers
Temple Leadership Council
A Leadership Council has been elected according to the bylaws of Boundless Way Zen Temple. The Temple Leadership Council in collaboration with the guiding teachers is responsible for establishing the institution of Boundless Way Zen Temple. They approve the budget, define membership, and otherwise develop the formal institutional structures of the Community. Tenure: One year.
Leadership Council:
- Rev. Corwyn Miyagishima, President
- Jenny Smith, Vice President
- Kristine Togneri, Clerk
- Matt Haas, Treasurer
- Craig Dreeszen, Member-at-Large
- Sabrina Mills, Member-at-Large
- Will Waters, Member-at-Large
- Rev. Melissa Blacker, Guiding Teacher
- Rev. David Rynick, Guiding Teacher
- Michael Herzog, Temple Director (non-voting)
Teachers Emeriti
James Myo’un Ford, Rōshi, is a Sōtō Zen priest and a Guiding Teacher emeritus for Boundless Way Zen Temple. He is currently the resident teacher for Empty Moon Zen Sangha Network in Anaheim, CA, Seattle and Woodinville, WA, and Northumberland, PA. James received Dharma transmission from Jiyu Kennett, Rōshi in 1971. In 1985 James became a student of the Harada-Yasutani Zen teacher John Tarrant, Rōshi and was authorized to teach by Tarrant in 1998. In 2005 John Tarrant gave James Inka Shomei, acknowledging him as a Dharma heir in the Harada-Yasutani Zen lineage. He is a member of the American Zen Teachers Association. He is the author of This Very Moment: A Brief Introduction to Buddhism and Zen for Unitarian Universalists. He is also the author of a study of Zen teachers and communities in North America, “Zen Master Who? A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen,” the co-editor of The Book of Mu: Essential Writings on Zen’s Most Important Koan, and the author of If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break: Field Notes from a Zen Life from Wisdom Publications. James is a retired Unitarian Universalist minister and is considered by many people to be one of the senior teachers of Zen in North America.
From left to right: Bob Waldinger, Melissa Blacker, David Rynick, Mike Fieleke
Robert “Bob” Ryudo Tetsumu Waldinger, Rōshi, is a Guiding Teacher emeritus for Boundless Way Zen Temple. He received full dharma transmission from Melissa Myozen Blacker, Rōshi, in two lineages: an ordained Sōtō transmission through Jiyu Kennett and a lay kōan-teaching lineage through John Tarrant. Bob is also a senior Sōtō Zen priest (Oshō). He is a psychiatrist and psychotherapist who teaches at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also directs the 80-year-long Harvard Study of Adult Development, the longest study of adult life ever done (“What Makes a Good Life?”). Bob is the Guiding Teacher of the Henry David Thoreau Sangha of Living Vow Zen in Newton, MA (www.newtonzen.org). He lives in Newton with his wife Jennifer and is the father of two adult sons.
Michael Shoryu Fieleke, Rōshi, is a Guiding Teacher emeritus for Boundless Way Zen Temple, Sōtō Zen priest, and resident teacher of Morning Star Zen Sangha of Living Vow Zen. Mike is a fully transmitted dharma heir of David Rynick, Rōshi in three lineages: an ordained Sōtō tradition, the Harada-Yasutani kōan school (both through James Ford, Rōshi), and the Korean Seon tradition (through Zen Master George Bowman). Mike also has a PhD in Education and is a high school English teacher. His blog can be found here.
