BowZ Teachers
Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi is a Soto Zen priest, and a Dharma heir to James Myoun Ford, Roshi in two lineages: an ordained Soto transmission through Jiyu Kennett, Roshi and a lay koan-teaching lineage through John Tarrant, Roshi. She is the Abbot of Boundless Way Zen, and along with her husband, David Dae An Rynick, Roshi, is a resident teacher at Boundless Way Temple in Worcester, Massachusetts. She holds degrees in anthropology, music, and counseling psychology and has a private practice in contemplative counseling. 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 and The Hidden Lamp, 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. Her Blog can be found at http://fireflyhall.blogspot.com/.
David Dae An Rynick, Roshi is a Soto Zen priest and is the abbot and a resident teacher at Boundless Way Temple in Worcester, Massachusetts. He received Dharma transmission in both the Korean Rinzai lineage through Zen Master George Bowman and in the Japanese Soto lineage through James Ford, Roshi. He is a member of the American Zen Teachers Association, and the author of 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 Teachers
Dharma Holder Alan Richardson began his practice of Zen Buddhism in 1973, when he spend a year sitting at San Francisco Zen Center. In 2007, he joined Boundless Way Zen and has since held a number of service and leadership positions, including serving as both Tenzo and Tanto at sesshin, as practice leader of the Henry David Thoreau sangha, and (twice) as president of the Boundless Way Zen Leadership Council. In 2021 he received Dharma Entrustment from his primary teacher, David Rynick, Rosji, becoming a Dharma Holder in the Boundless Way Zen 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 walking, nature, Zen, section-hiking the “AT”.
Teachers Emeriti
Robert “Bob” Ryudo Tetsumu Waldinger, Roshi is a Guiding Teacher emeritus for Boundless Way Zen. He received full dharma transmission from Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi, in two lineages: an ordained Soto transmission through Jiyu Kennett and a lay koan-teaching lineage through John Tarrant. Bob is also a senior Soto Zen priest (Osho). 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. Bob is the Guiding teacher of the Henry David Thoreau Sangha of Living Vow Zen in Newton, MA. He lives in Newton with his wife Jennifer and is the father of two adult sons.
Michael Shoryu Fieleke, Roshi is a Guiding Teacher emeritus for Boundless Way Zen, Soto Zen priest, and resident teacher of Morning Star Zen Sangha of Living Vow Zen. and Soto Zen priest. He curently teaches at Living Vow Zen. Mike is a fully trannsmitted Dharma heir of David Rynick, Roshi in three lineages: an ordained Soto tradition, the Harada-Yasutani koan school (both through James Ford, Roshi), and the Korean Seon tradition (through Zen Master George Bowman). He is a full member of the American Zen Teachers Association. Mike has a PhD in Education and is a high school English teacher. His blog can be found here.
James Myo’un Ford, Roshi is a Soto Zen priest and a Boundless Way Zen Guiding Teacher Emeritus. He is currently the resident teacher for Empty Moon Zen Sangha Network which has locations in Anaheim, CA, Seattle and Woodinville, WA, and Northumberland, PA. James received Dharma transmission from Jiyu Kennett, Roshi and was authorized to teach by John Tarrant, Roshi. In 2005 John Tarrant gave James Inka Shomei, acknowledging him as a Dharma heir in the Harada-Yasutani Zen lineage. 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.
Fierce Lotus 