Who We Are

For over 50 years, the Rochester Zen Center has thrived, becoming one of the largest and most respected Buddhist centers in North America. The Center has members and affiliated groups throughout the United States and in Europe, Mexico, and New Zealand. Through its daily meditation services, residential training program, and introductory workshops, the Center has helped introduce Buddhism into the American mainstream, while simultaneously reshaping and integrating the forms of Zen into America’s own unique culture.

Sensei John Pulleyn

Sensei John Pulleyn is a Co-Director of the Rochester Zen Center. Together with Sensei Dhnna Kowal, he provides Zen training and spiritual guidance to the Center’s members worldwide. Read more on Sensei John Pulleyn

Sensei Dhara Kowal

Sensei Dhara Kowal was authorized as a Zen teacher by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede in 2022 and serves as Co-Director of the Rochester Zen Center, in partnership with Sensei John Pulleyn. Read more on Sensei Dhara Kowal

Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede

Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede is Dharma Successor to Roshi Phillip Kapleau. He served as Abbot of the Rochester Zen Center from 1986 to 2021 and then Co-Director with Sensei John Pulleyn through 2022. He remains active in the Center from afar, leading many morning Zoom sittings and conducting occasional sesshins. Read more on Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede

Eryl Kubicka

Eryl Kubicka has been practicing Buddhism since 1969. In addition to offering Private Instruction and running sesshin, she is a longtime engaged Buddhist, e.g., serving in our Prison Dharma meditation program. Read more on Eryl Kubicka

Ven. Trueman Taylor

Trueman Taylor is a longtime student of Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede and was ordained as a Zen Buddhist priest in 2008. As well as offering Private Instruction, he also leads sesshin and serves as the Center's Head of Zendo. Read more on Ven. Trueman Taylor

Ven. Jissai Prince-Cherry

Jissai Prince-Cherry is the Group Leader of the Louisville Zen Center. She works closely with her teacher, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede offers Private Instruction, and leads sesshin. In 2022, she was ordained as a Zen Buddhist Priest. Read more on Ven. Jissai Prince-Cherry

Susan Rakow

Susan Rakow is the Group Leader of the Cleveland Zazen Group, a position she has held for over 40 years. She also offers Private Instruction and facilitates the Center's monthly Parent Practice group on Zoom. Read more on Susan Rakow

The Cloud-Water Sangha

The “Cloud-Water Sangha” is made up of Zen Centers led by students of Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede, some of whom are now independent teachers themselves Read more on The Cloud-Water Sangha

RZC's Community

Being part of the Sangha (Community) plays an important role in Zen, as we strive to support one another in the journey of practice. In addition to a robust schedule of sittings and retreats, there's an ever-changing array of social activities. Read more on RZC's Community

Our History

The history of the Rochester Zen Center begins overseas with the Nuremberg and Tokyo War Crimes Trials at the close of World War II. Read more on Our History

Roshi Philip Kapleau

Philip Kapleau was one of the founding fathers of American Zen. He made it his life’s work to transplant Zen Buddhism into American soil, bridging the gap between theory and practice and making Zen Buddhism accessible to all. In 1966 he published The Three Pillars of Zen, the first book to explain the practice of Zen to Westerners. Read more on Roshi Philip Kapleau

Philip Kapleau prostrating to his teacher, Yasutani Roshi

Roshi Kapleau & His Teachers

An in-depth look at Dharma transmission and the Rochester Zen Center lineage. Read more on Roshi Kapleau & His Teachers

Header photo by Jon Cherry