Daigu Michael OKeefe

Daigu Michael O'Keefe

Michael O'Keefe is a member of The Peacemaker Community, and was the first priest ordained within the Zen Peacemaker Order on its establishment in 1994. From our very beginnings Michael has been a great support to us at Black Mountain Zen Centre, as well as being an internationally recognized actor, director and producer.

Michael came to Zen in 1986 with the Zen Community of New York, studying under Tetsugen Bernie Glassman Roshi. His engaged approach to Buddhism has led him to be involved in social improvement projects and he has tirelessly campaigned with others for permanent accommodation for the homeless in New York and he has helped to establish HIV/Aids clinics.
 
He sees the Peacemaker Order as being involved across the world in building a "global, effective force for social change". "It integrates social action with spiritual practice, taking in the medium of mediation... Belfast is an incredible place to teach meditation."

 
 
 
Ingen Breen
 
Ingen Breen
 
Ingen Breen began Buddhist practice with the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order in 1991 and moved from Ireland in 1995 to practice Zen at Green Dragon Temple and Tassajara Mountain Monastery in America. He was ordained by Norman Fischer in 2000 and was shuso with Abbess Blanche Hartman in 2002. He also practices T’ai Ji and Aikido and is now a priest at San Francisco Zen Center.
 
 
 
 
Robert Kennedy S.J. Roshi
 
Robert Kennedy Roshi
 
Robert Kennedy is an engaging Zen teacher who leads retreats in Europe and America. He is a Christian Priest & Theologian, and Consultant Psychiatrist as well as a Zen teacher in the White Plum lineage.

He studied Zen with Yamada Roshi in Kamakura, with Taizan Maezumi Roshi  in Los Angeles, and with Bernie Glassman Roshi  in New York. He received dharma transmission  from Glassman Roshi in 1997.

During Zen retreats Kennedy Roshi teaches only Zen in his public talks. However he is generally willing to answer questions on other subjects during one to one dokusan practice interviews. This may be a particular advantage to those who combine Christian faith with Zen practice. He is the author of Zen Gifts to Christians and Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit.

His approach to Zen combines some aspects of both the Soto and Rinzai traditions.
 
 
 
 
Zesho Susan O'Connell
 
Zesho Susan OConnell

Zesho Susan O’Connell has been practicing Zen since 1987, and was ordained as a priest by Tenshin Reb Anderson in 1999.  Following a period as shuso at Green Dragon Temple, she currently serves as vice president of San Francisco Zen Center.

"When we first encounter Buddhism, we may think that the successful understanding and practice of the teachings is dependent on following cultural norms and customs from Asia, where the Dharma has been nurtured and developed from its initial expression by Shakyamuni Buddha over 2500 years ago.  I would like to suggest that the Dharma is alive and well in our own Western culture."

 
   
   
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