This short retreat serves as our annual memorial event, dedicated to honoring our esteemed ancestors and teachers, both living and deceased, who have selflessly passed on the inexhaustible lamp of the Dharma to us. Typically, we gather to honor the teachings and legacy of Guo Gu’s teacher, Master Sheng Yen. For this year’s event, we are privileged to have the presence of distinguished Buddhist teachers Chozen Bays Roshi, Hogen Bays Roshi, Fred Eppsteiner and Guo Gu. Each of these four teachers will lead our practice and share stories and their experiences of learning under their own Buddhist teachers.

Each session begins with a guided meditation, followed by the talk and an opportunity for Q&A. This event is held in-person at the Tallahassee Chan Center and is available online via Zoom.  Please note that accommodations are not provided at the Tallahassee Chan Center for this short retreat.

Talk Dates:
Friday, February 02 – 6:00pm – 9:00pm ET
Saturday, February 03 – 6:00pm – 9:00pm ET
Sunday, February 04 – 9:30am – 12:00pm ET

Venue:
Tallahassee Chan Center
1310 North Paul Russell Rd.
Tallahassee, FL 32301

Chozen Bays, Roshi

Jan Chozen Bays, Roshi has studied and practiced Zen Buddhism since 1973. She received Jukai (lay precepts) in 1975 and Tokudo, Priest’s Ordination, in 1979 from Taizan Maezumi, Roshi. From 1978 to 1983 she lived at Zen Center of Los Angeles, studying with Maezumi, Roshi and directing the Zen Center’s non-profit Medical Clinic. She finished formal koan study in 1983 and she was given Dharma transmission (authorization to teach) that same year. Following the death of Maezumi, Roshi in 1995 she has continued her training with Shodo Harada, Roshi, a Rinzai Zen teacher and the abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Japan.

Hogen Bays, Roshi

Hogen Bays, Roshi began practicing in 1968 with Philip Kapleau, Roshi and was part of the residential staff at Zen Center of Rochester in Rochester, New York until 1975. He lived and trained at Zen Center of Los Angeles under the direction of Taizan Maezumi, Roshi from 1980-1984. In 1990 he took priest’s ordination with Maezumi, Roshi. After advice and consultation with Harada, Roshi and other Zen teachers, in 2000 he received Dharma Transmission from Chozen, Roshi.  Since 1990 Hogen has continued his Zen studies with Rinzai Zen teacher Shodo Harada, Roshi, abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Japan and One Drop Zendo in Tahoma, Washington. He has been a leader of Zen Community of Oregon since 1985 and worked full-time for the sangha since 1997. He is co-abbot of Great Vow Zen Monastery.

Fred Eppsteiner

Fred Eppsteiner is a Dharma teacher in the lineage of Thich Nhat Hanh. He practices in the Zen and Tibetan traditions but bases his teachings on the full breadth of Buddhist philosophy, psychology, and meditation. He has been a student of Buddhism and a practitioner of meditation for over fifty years and has devoted himself to teaching the Dharma (teachings of the Buddha) since 1996. Although Fred has practiced primarily in the Zen and Tibetan Buddhist lineages, he bases his teachings on the full breadth of Buddhist philosophical, psychological and meditative traditions. He is the founder of the Florida Community of Mindfulness in Tampa, FL.

Moderator, Guo Gu

Guo Gu (Dr. Jimmy Yu) is the founder of the Tallahassee Chan Center, the founder of the socially engaged intra-denominational Buddhist organization, Dharma Relief, and a professor of Buddhism and East Asian religions at Florida State University. He was a monk for nine years and one of the late Master Sheng Yen’s senior and closest disciples. He is the author of The Essence of Chan (2012), Passing Through the Gateless Barrier (2016), and Silent Illumination (2021).      

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