TEACHERS
GAELYN GODWIN-Abbot
Gaelyn is a Zen priest, and a Dharma successor in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Gaelyn began training at San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC) in 1985 and was ordained by Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi in January 1991. She received the Dharma name, Setsuan, which is translated as Snow Hut. Her second Dharma name is Konjin, Establish Love. She became Tenshin Roshi's Dharma successor in 2003 in the U.S., and was acknowledged in 2005 at the head Soto Zen temple in Japan, qualifying to receive the title of Kaikyoshi.
Gaelyn lived and trained at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, SFZC's monastery, for 12 years, serving in many positions, from kitchen crew through Director.
She lived and trained at Zen Center's Green Gulch Farm and Beginner's Mind temple for 6 more years. She served on SFZC's Board of Directors for 7 years and
currently advises the Affiliates Council. She trained in Japan, at Hosshinji with Harada Sekkei Roshi in 1991-92, and with Robert Aitken Roshi in Hawaii in 1995–96. Gaelyn
moved to Houston in 2003 to serve as the Guiding Teacher of the Houston Zen Community. In April 2012, Houston Zen Center hosted an international gathering of Zen teachers for the Mountain Seat Ceremony, or
Shin San Shiki, in Japanese, during which Gaelyn was installed as the Abbot of HZC.
She has two stepdaughters, Jessie, an economist in Chicago, and Sarah, an obstetrician in San Francisco, and four grandchildren, Oscar, Rose, Joachim and Sofia.
She values interfaith communication as well as intra-Buddhist communication to further understanding of the various Buddhist schools. She maintains close ties, both official and social, with the Soto Zen head temple in Japan, and serves as the President of the Board of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. She is also a member of the American Zen Teachers Association and the Association of Soto Zen Buddhists. She hopes to see, in this lifetime, the teachings of Buddhism flourish and show their Western colors and Western styles for the benefit of everyone.
Visiting Teachers
TENSHIN REB ANDERSON, Roshi
Reb Anderson is Senior Dharma Teacher at San Francisco Zen Center. He came to San Francisco from Minnesota in 1967 to study Zen Buddhism with Shunryu Suzuki Roshi and in 1970 was ordained by him as a priest and given the name Tenshin Zenki, Naturally Real, The Whole Works. Since that time he has continued to practice and teach at San Francisco Zen Center, which includes Green Gulch Farm, the San Francisco Beginners Mind Temple (City Center), and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He served as abbot from 1986 to 1995.
EIJUN LINDA CUTTS
Abbess of San Francisco Zen Center
Senior Dharma Teacher Eijun Linda Cutts came to San Francisco Zen Center in 1971, where she practiced with Suzuki Roshi, Zentatsu Baker and Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi. She was ordained as a priest in 1975 and has lived at Tassajara and San Francisco City Center and since 1993, she and her family have lived at Green Gulch Farm. Linda is married to Steve Weintraub, a zen priest and psychotherapist, and they have two children.
ARLENE LUECK
Arlene Lueck is the Tanto/Head of Practice at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center.
She has been a resident practitioner at the San Francisco Zen Center for more than fifteen years. She was ordained as a priest by Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1996. She has served as Head Monk, and currently guides
the practice at Green Dragon Temple, Green Gulch Farm.
KOSHO McCALL
Head Priest Austin Zen Center
Kosho McCall is a Soto Zen Buddhist Priest and Teacher in the lineage of Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki. He was born in Indiana in 1948 and grew up in Maine. He ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1976 and in 1988 went to study at the San Francisco Zen Center for the next 20 years. He ordained as a Zen priest in 1997. For twelve years he lived and trained at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, becoming its Head of Monastic Practice in 2004. He received Dharma Transmission (permission to teach) from his teacher, Zenkei Hartman Roshi.
In 2009, Kosho accepted the Austin Zen Center"s invitation to become their Zen teacher.
FLINT SPARKS
Flint is an ordained Zen Buddhist priest serving the Appamada group in Austin, Texas, as well as a psychotherapist. He began his formal Zen training at the San Francisco Zen Center with his teacher,
Zenkei Blanche Hartman. Flint travels widely, leading retreats all over the world.
KAZ TANAHASHI
Kaz has had solo exhibitions and done painting performances in art galleries, museums, and universities internationally. Trained in Japan as a painter and calligrapher, Kaz has been active in the United States since 1977. He is a Fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science and is listed in Who's Who In America.
He is the founding director of A World Without Armies: The Costa Rica Initiative.
SOJUN MEL WEITSMAN Roshi
Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center
Sojun Roshi is an original student of famed Zen Master Suzuki Roshi.
In 1964, Sojun Roshi began to practice at San Francisco Zen Center on Bush Street, and in 1969 he was ordained by Suzuki Roshi as resident
priest at the Berkeley Zendo. He received Dharma Transmission from Suzuki Roshi's son and successor, Gyugaku Hoitsu, at Rinsoin temple in Japan in 1984, and was officially installed as
Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center in 1985.
Along with his responsibilities in Berkeley, Sojun Roshi helps train students and teachers at several affiliated temples. From 1988 to 1997 he served as Co-Abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center. Sojun Roshi has given Dharma Transmission to numerous students, each of whom draws on their experience and understanding in offering Sojun and Suzuki Roshi's teaching to others.
The Center is the heart of our practice and allows us to practice meditation on a daily basis. Practicing together in a shared space is the essence of Zen. Many of our members maintain meditation practice at their homes, coming to the Center on a weekly or monthly basis: this is understood to be an extension of the shared space that we maintain together. We also share longer retreats, led by the Abiding Teacher, senior members, and visiting Dharma Teachers. 
