Boundless Way Zen (Boston, MA): Leadership within Boundless Way Zen


Bylaws of Boundless Way Zen (pdf). Click here to download. (Revised October 2007) LEADERSHIP WITHIN BOUNDLESS WAY ZEN All leaders and teachers of Boundless Way Zen acknowledge that they are ongoing students and that the quality of their leadership derives from the quality of their practice. As ongoing students, each leader and teacher commits to continuing her or his study of the great way, allowing the wisdom of form and emptiness to manifest within and as engaged lives. A NOTE ON THE TERM 'TEACHER.' In most Zen communities in the West, the term teacher is reserved exclusively for those who have received Dharma transmission, formal sanction as a teacher within a traditional lineage. The major exception to this narrow usage has been within the Kwan Um School of Zen, who use the titles dharma teacher and senior dharma teacher for people with functions similar to those described above. In that school, it is clearly understood that these teachers have not received Dharma transmission. By also adopting this broader usage, Boundless Way Zen hopes to help reclaim the term teacher, as well as many of the aspects of teaching, as functions genuinely shared by the whole community and not exclusively the work of those who possess formal Dharma transmission. The Leadership Council A Leadership Council has been elected according to the bylaws of Boundless Way Zen. The Leadership Council in collaboration with the guiding teachers is responsible for establishing the institution of Boundless Way Zen. They approve the budget, define membership, and otherwise develop the formal institutional structures of the Community. Tenure: One year. Leadership Council: Ed Oberholtzer, President James Cordova, Vice-President Laura Wallace, Secretary Doug Bates, Treasurer Sue Allen, Member-at-Large Arlene Duelfer, Member-at-Large Sam Politz, Member-at-Large Jan Seymour-Ford, Member-at-Large Harold Stevens, Member-at-Large Ken Walkama, Member-at-Large Spiritual Leadership As a dynamic network of practice centers there is a need for a variety of kinds of spiritual leadership. The following positions have been created to meet those needs. *Practice Leader* The practice leader is responsible for the general direction of a particular group or retreat. Prerequisites: A practice leader should have demonstrated maturity in her or his practice, be familiar with BWZ's forms, be able to lead by example and have communication skills. Tenure: As the guiding teachers feel appropriate. Practice Leaders: Edward Oberholtzer, Spring Hill Zen Jan Seymour-Ford, Henry Thoreau Zen Sangha, & Retreats (Sesshins) Josh Bartok, Ralph Waldo Emerson Zen Sangha Ken Walkama, Wellspring Zen Harold Stevens, Worcester Zen Community - Berwick St. Zendo Jeffrey Bailey, Worcester Zen Community - First Unitarian *Dharma Teacher* Dharma teachers share in the spiritual leadership of BWZ as requested by the guiding teachers. Dharma teachers introduce BWZ's forms and practices in classes and lectures. They may also informally speak with other members of the community about details of practice. They may also give Dharma talks. A dharma teacher may not give formal practice interviews (dokusan) or establish personal student-teacher relationships (shoken). Prerequisites: Are determined by the guiding teachers on a case by case basis. But, a dharma teacher should have demonstrated maturity in practice, be familiar with BWZ's forms, be able to lead by example and otherwise have communication skills. As a general rule a dharma teacher should have been practicing Zen for at least five years, and must have an understanding of the history and forms of Zen Buddhism. Tenure: As the guiding teachers feel appropriate. Dharma Teachers: Ken Rivard Ken Walkama Ed Oberholtzer *Senior Dharma Teacher* Senior dharma teachers share in the spiritual leadership of the Community as requested by the guiding teachers. In addition to the responsibilities of a dharma teacher a senior dharma teacher may be authorized to give practice interviews. A senior dharma teacher may not establish personal student-teacher relationships (shoken). Prerequisites: Are determined by the guiding teachers on a case by case basis. But, a senior dharma teacher should have demonstrated maturity in practice, be familiar with BWZ's forms, be able to lead by example and otherwise have communication skills. As a general rule a senior dharma teacher should have been practicing Zen for ten years, and must have an understanding of the history and forms of Zen Buddhism. Tenure: As the guiding teachers feel appropriate. Senior Dharma Teachers: Jan Seymour-Ford Josh Bartok *Guiding Teachers* The Boundless Way Zen Teachers Council is responsible for the spiritual direction of the Boundless Way Zen community. Guiding Teachers: David Dayan Rynick Sensei Melissa Myozen Blacker Sensei James Myoun Ford Roshi.