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Last Sunday, March 29th, we hosted a concert at the Friends Meetinghouse in Riverwest. Some of us had met the group at Ryumonji Monastery in Iowa on their 25th Anniversary last October. I was so impressed with their performance that I asked the leader, Pine Wilson, if they would consider bringing their music to Milwaukee. That finally happened, and a good crowd enjoyed two hours of wonderful entertainment.
Some even got up to dance to the entrancing rhythms. Here are some photos.
It is April 1st, and I apologize for not having been in contact for three months since the last entry.
The US war with Iran has occupied my attention, and my main activity has been creating a counter balance to the stress, sadness and despair felt by myself and sangha members.
We conducted a study of Eihei Dogen’s Genjokoan, the recordings of which are available on the website: https://mkzen.org/classes
Two students, Cornelia Beilke and Peter July, have been preparing for Jukai (Receiving the Precepts), sewing their rakusu and discussing the 16 Bodhisattva precepts. They each also demonstrate their practice in a Way-Seeking-Mind talk. (https://mkzen.org/sangha-members-talks)
We held the annual observation of Shakyamuni Buddha’s Entry into Parinirvana, a Tree Blessing, weekly River Walks, Sandokai and Half-Day Sittings, a Solstice Celebration, and hosted a concert of Maritza, Eastern European folk music.
The Dharma talks of the last weeks were designed to complement our Zen practice and support a larger perspective on the world situation. https://mkzen.org/reirins-dharma-talks-2026
In addition, I had many one-on-one talks with individuals, experienced students and beginning practitioners.
Silent Walk along Milwaukee River
A deep shock for many Zen students who have practiced at Tassajara Mountain Zen Center has been the recent fire that destroyed the zendo. Though it happened during the last sesshin at the end of the Winter Practice Period, nobody got hurt. Everyone helped to contain the blaze, so it would not spread to other structures.
Tassajara Zendo Before and After
The next two months will bring renewed energy for sangha activity, and all members and friends are invited to join in the events that are offered. Please check the website for information and fill out the survey for zazen times, so we can serve all your scheduling needs.
The long Wisconsin winter is slowly coming to an end and Nature will soon erupt in an outburst of green foliage and multi-colored flowers. May all beings find solace and peace in the comfort of community.
With a deep gassho,
Reirin
A large crowd assembled in the rotunda of the Milwaukee City Hall on Monday, January 26, 2026. At short notice, clergy and lay leaders from various churches, synagogues and temples had come out in extremely cold temperatures to show support for immigrants who have been brutally snatched up by ICE and Border Patrol agents to be detained and eventually deported. Also observers and bystanders have been targeted, and two people were fatally shot. The Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee in conjunction with Forward Latino called for a prayer vigil, which became at the same time a nonviolent protest. It was a moving event, and many people were in tears.
We held again our traditional New Year’s Sitting with alternate periods of zazen and walking meditation from 8:00 pm until midnight. In this last night of the year, we reflect on the past 12 months, and consider our intentions for the future.
At 9:30 pm we took a break for a snack of Japanese noodles.
At 11:45 pm the bell was struck 108 times by the attendees.
Afterwards we put in the fire things that had been used up during the year: bits of burned incense and pages of sutra text. Then everybody was invited to write on a piece of paper what they would like to let go of, and these items were offered in a fire ceremony at the end.
Jonathan and AJ transferrin the bell striker.
This year's Rohatsu Sesshin at Hokyoji was led by Rev. Onryu Kennedy from December 1st through 7th. Unfortunately only a small gathering, because many who had wanted to participate had emergencies and other situations that prevented them from attending. However, it was pure white winter magic! There was great energy for practice, and everybody pitched in with various jobs; we listened to four talks from different teachers.
On the evening of December 8, Bodhi Day, we celebrated Buddha’s and our own awakening with a ceremony and potluck at MZC.
October 12, 2025, was the 25th Anniversary of Ryumonji Monastery in Iowa, where some of our sangha have occasionally practiced. It was a big affair with about 150 visitors from as far as Japan.
On Sunday, September 28, we celebrated our 40th Anniversary at the Society of Friends’ Meetinghouse in Riverwest. It was the ideal place: Nestled in the woods close to Milwaukee River, in a cul-de-sac, the building has a large meeting room with floor-to-ceiling windows and parquet floor.
Religious Society of Friends Meeting House
About 40 members and friends from other Buddhist centers and interfaith organizations had lively conversations while enjoying catering from Thai-namite Restaurant and an espresso bar from Roast Coffee, both small local businesses.
Board President Bill Davidson opened with news about the current situation with the City of Milwaukee, hopeful that we may stay in our old home, but in need of financial support.
Tom Tolan had stories from 45 years ago, before the center was incorporated.
Tonen O’Connor told us about the time with Tozen Akiyama, the first Resident Priest, who she replaced in ?, reading from 30Years of Reflections
Reirin ended with a report from the last ten years.
CONGRATULATIONS, KOKYO-AN!
This year’s Gathering of Branching Streams was held at LUREC, Loyola University Recreation and Ecology Center in Woodstock, Illinois. MZC co-hosted it together with Ancient Dragon Zen Gate in Chicago. From our sangha, Erin Garber-Pearson was part of the Program Committee and Reirin was on the Advisory Committee. Bill Davidson also came along and made a statement about Milwaukee Zen Center.
Sangha Member Daijin Angyo Frank Fischer received Dharma Entrustment on August 24
Many friends joined in the joyful ceremony. Frank now bears the honorary Dharma name DOSHIN - Heart of the Way.
Tom served as Doan and Jonathan in the dual capacity of Jisha and Ino.
Thank you, Noah, for taking pictures!
Jewel Mirror Sesshin at Hokyoji, August 9 - 16, 2025
Fourteen Zen practitioners enjoyed a peaceful, mostly silent retreat in the lush wilderness environment of the Hokyoji Zen Practice Place in Minnesota. For several of the younger generation this was their first longer sesshin, and they showed great determination to participate in the full schedule. We all felt great appreciation for the deep practice.
One of my favorite Buddhist teachers is Chan Master Guo Gu at Tallahassee Chan Center. He visited the Chicago Chapter of the Dharma Drum Mountain Buddhist Association https://www.ddmbachicago.org/, and I spent a weekend with that sangha. The deep connection between Zen and Chan was obvious, and I was very happy to meet the teacher in person. Gratitude to Iris Wang and Michael Schnabel for organizing this event!
Attendance during the summer months is usually slow, but we kept the zendo open. Reirin spent a couple of weeks in Japan, and Shoho Michael Newhall and his partner Nensen Pamela Brown were residing at MZC.
Regular observations during the liturgical year like the Bodhisattva Ceremony and Hiroshima Memorial took place, a class on The Ten Oxherding Pictures was held during June and July, we had our usual Half-Day Sittings, and we visited the Hokyoji Zen Practice Community for the annual Jewel Mirror Sesshin (more on that later).
One of the members of our larger sangha, Lynn Kershner, who Reirin had been visiting at hospice, died, and three of us held her funeral at a place her family had selected.
We started a Book Club on a new book on Shunryu Suzuki’s teachings Becoming Yourself that is meeting bi-weekly on an ongoing basis.
In the meantime Frank Fischer kept sewing a new, green, rakusu for his Lay Dharma Entrustment, which took place on August 24.
Summer is ending and new events are on the agenda for Fall and Winter.
May all beings realize their true nature and be free from suffering.
Today, June 20, is celebrated as World Refugee Day. Two days ago, the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee set up a webinar with representatives rom ten different religions on “Welcoming the Stranger”.
We all agreed in that it is our responsibility to take care of each other, and especially stand by those who are in danger of persecution and displacement.
Here is the link to the recording: https://youtu.be/HxWSreUFX_8
VESAK, the most celebrated Buddhist holiday, falls on the full moon in May, and we used the occasion to commemorate Siddharta Gautama’s birthday on Sunday, May 11. After the ceremony of reading the story and bathing the Baby Buddha, the sangha enjoyed birthday cake, live music and engaged conversation.
Ian and Kelly performed songs and Noah played piano amidst a field of flowers.
On Friday, 2/14, local religious leaders were invited to participate in a vigil for Yessenia Ruano, a refugee from El Salvador, who was about to be deported after having been in Milwaukee for 14 years and a teacher's aide for 8 years in the public school system.
She had an appointment for 8 am, initially to get an extension but had been told that she would be detained and deported.
A large crowd met at 7:30 am the USCIS building in ice-cold temperatures, some marching in a circle with signs and loud chanting, others quietly around the woman and her daughters, offering prayers. There was a lot of media, and I was interviewed together with Myoyu Roshi from Great Plains Zen Center.
After a couple of hours Ms Ruano emerged from the building with an extension!
Milwaukee teacher's aide at risk of deportation wins more time in U.S.
On December 8, Bodhi Day, we commemorated the Enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha in a joyful celebration. We are reminded that we all have the potential to awaken, and that this human body-mind gives us the opportunity and responsibility to be aware in service for all beings.
We circumambulated the altar to the beat of the big drum with the chant Om Namu Shakyamuni Buddha, while flowers were raining from the sky. Afterwards, the Heart of Great Perfect Wisdom Sutra was recited, followed by a special dedication.
Before the ceremony, Reirin’s dharma talk set the tone after the regular Sunday morning zazen period. (Recorded here: https://mkzen.org/reirins-dharma-talks-2024)
On October 31, we celebrated SEJIKI,
an ancient Buddhist ceremony, in which we make a food offering to the Hungry Ghosts.
Hungry ghosts are all those spirits who feel unsatisfied and cannot get enough nourishment. They have large stomachs and thin throats. These beings can also be within ourselves. Sejiki is conducted for the benefit of these sprits. Their throats can be opened by special mantras, and they are able to receive food offerings.
At the end of the ceremony, names are read of sangha members, family and friends, who had died in the last year.
Because the spirits are not comfortable in a sacred space, a separate altar was put up on the opposite side of the zendo with many delicious food items.
Then we called them special sounds from noise instruments that they like.
Afterwards we enjoyed a community dinner with guests from the Election Retreat.
SEJIKI ALTAR 2024
On September 22, 2024, three of our members: ELI LU, FAY AKINDES and MEG LUCKS, received the SIXTEEN GREAT BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS in a joyful ceremony, witnessed by sangha, family and friends. They each also received a Dharma name, inscribed on a rakusu, a mini Buddha robe, which they sewed themselves and can now proudly wear.
Great Congratulations to you, Eli, Fay and Meg!
Eli Lu Fragrant Breeze, Field of Virtue
Fay Akindes Clear Lake, Supreme Peace
Meg Lucks Brilliant Moon, Circle of the Way
Dr. Jay McDaniel, a student of the late Keido Fukushima of the Rinzai Zen tradition, chair of the board of the Center for Process Studies, and Rev. Reirin Gumbel, the Resident Priest of the Milwaukee Zen Center from the Shunryu Suzuki lineage of Soto Zen, have been co-leading a unique journey into Zen practice and philosophy, and their confluence with process philosophy through our virtual series, Process and Presence. https://mkzen.org/new-events/2024/4/23/process-and-presence-exploring-zen-buddhism-and-process-philosophy
The last zoom session will be on September 24, 2024.
There has been, however, the wish to continue the discussions with a new reading material, which we are currently exploring. We invite new members to join us. Please contact Reirin at info@mkzen.org.
A continuation of the circle is planned to start on October 22, 2024. The book we chose for discussion is CHINA ROOT: Taoism, Ch'an, and Original Zen by David Hinton. Please sign up by email to info@mkzen.org to receive the zoom code and more information.
Here are a couple of recordings of the August/September meetings:
Frank, Tom and I returned from Hokyoji Zen Practice Community https://hokyoji.org/, where we spent last week at the annual Jewel Mirror Sesshin.
I was again co-leading with Hoyoji’s guiding teacher Dokai Georgesen and Daigaku Rumme from Confluence Zen Center in St. Louis. We each gave two Dharma talks on the Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi by Dongshan Liangjie.
It was a joy sitting in the middle of the serene scenery in south-eastern Minnesota, still and peaceful in zazen. Besides sitting, there was walking, eating and work practice, all in “noble” silence.
Everybody is looking forward to the Rohatsu Sesshin in December, please join us for that!
Here are photos:
