Rev. David Ryudo Shunyo Caruso joins the sangha of Boundless Way Zen priests

On Sunday, March 26, I welcomed Rev. David Ryudo Shunyo Caruso into the sangha of Boundless Way Zen priests, in a ceremony called a "Rite of Reception."  David was ordained by his first teacher, Kobun Chino, Roshi, 42 years ago.  When he asked me to be his teacher, the Guiding Teachers of Boundless Way came up with the idea of receiving him into our priest sangha through this formal ceremony, which resembles an ordination ceremony, but eliminates some elements (like head-shaving) and includes others (like taking the precepts and re-receiving his priestly garments, which had belonged to Kobun's father.)  In this photo, taken by David's daughter Lily, are some of the people who participated in this welcoming rite:  David Dae An Rynick, Roshi, Rev. Paul Galvin, me, Rev. Michael Fieleke, Rev. Ray Demers, and Rev. Aaron Caruso, David Caruso's son.  The ceremony was attended by members of the Boundless Way Zen Sangha, David Caruso's wife, another son, and Lily.

Rev. Diane Shoshin Fitzgerald receives Denbo Transmission

It is with great pleasure that I announce that, late in the night of March 17, 2017,  I gave Dharma Transmission to Rev. Diane Shoshin Fitzgerald, at a secret ceremony at Boundless Way Temple, witnessed by other transmitted teachers of Boundless Way Zen.  Diane Sensei was voted in by the Boundless Way Zen Leadership Council as a Guiding Teacher of  Boundless Way Zen.  Also an ordained Soto Zen priest, Diane is resident teacher at Boundless Way Temple, and at Boundless Way Zen DownEast in Pembroke, Maine.  She is one of the leaders of the Boundless Way Zen and Boundless Way Zen DownEast EcoSattva action groups and is a volunteer with DownEast Maine Hospice Services.

Photo of Melissa Roshi and Diane Sensei by Boundless Way Zen Guiding Teacher Kate Hartland, Sensei

Boundless Way Zen March 2017 Sesshin recordings

Thanks to Steve Wallace, the talks from our March sesshin, held at Boundless Way Tmeple in Worcester, are now available at the following link:   http://www.boundlesswayzen.org/recorded.htm The talks feature our two newest teachers, Kate Hartland, Sensei and Diane Fitzgerald, Sensei, as well as Dharma Holders Mike Fieleke and Steve Wallace, and Josh Bartok, Roshi and yours truly, Melissa Blacker, Roshi.  Enjoy!