Zen Buddhist Path

Roshi Paul Genki Kahn has chosen to develop a new order for Zen that maintains the rigorous standards of traditional transmission, while expressing the values and needs of our time. This mind-to-mind transmission in the Zen lineage, is the heart of Zen Garland and the empowerment and authority for the various Paths.

All practitioners are encouraged to complete the Zen Garland General Path as a foundation for spiritual development.

Practitioners can join the Zen Buddhist Path at any point in their practice at the discretion of the Head Teachers, Roshi Genki, Sensei Jikai and Sensei Ankai. The Zen Buddhist Path offers holistic education and practice for those seeking a more structured and advanced spiritual direction in Zen Buddhism. We provide five Expressions – Spiritual Development, End of Life Caregiver, Teacher Training, Chaplaincy and Ordination as a Zen Buddhist Priest.

We generally want a practitioner to have five or ten years’ foundation of consistent spiritual practice under an accredited teacher before setting out on Teacher or Ordination Expressions. Exceptions are made depending on the maturity and life experience of an individual.

Some of our current landmarks in Teacher Expression are:

  • Mentor who partners and encourages newcomers to the community.
  • Instructor who teaches Introduction to Zen Practice.
  • Head Trainee who is the head student for an Ango (Intense 3 month Training Period).
  • Dharma Holder (Assistant Teacher) who can begin to guide a practitioner’s spiritual development.
  • Sensei, an independent Zen Teacher.
  • Roshi, a Master Zen Teacher, a teacher of teachers.

Landmarks in Priest Expression are:

  • Postulant, who aspires to ordain and helps care for the community and maintain the liturgy.
  • Novice Priest, who engages in studies toward priesthood and helps maintain the community, liturgy and ceremonies, including Jukai.
  • Head Novice Priest for an Ango (Intense 3 month Training Period).
  • Priest, who has had Denkai and can give jukai and officiate at daily services and some ceremonies.
  • Full Priest, who can do all of the above as well as make priests and supervise their spiritual development and lives.