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Gyokuko Carlson

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gyokuko Carlson
TitleRoshi
Personal
Born
Andrea Gass
ReligionZen Buddhism
SpouseKyogen Carlson (1982-2014, his death)
SchoolSōtō
Senior posting
Based inDharma Rain Zen Center
PredecessorJiyu Kennett
Websitewww.Dharma-Rain.Org

Gyokuko Carlson (born Andrea Gass) is a Soto Zen roshi and abbess of Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon, United States.

Biography

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She was formerly the co-abbot along with her husband, the late Kyogen Carlson. Carlson and her husband practiced at Shasta Abbey when Jiyu Kennett was the abbess (and from whom she received Dharma transmission), leaving to found their own center in 1986[1] when celibacy became a requirement at Shasta Abbey.[2] She has been a practitioner of Zen Buddhism for more than thirty years, and is a member of the American Zen Teachers Association.[2][3]

Gyokuko and Kyogen Carlson have come to be known as the major non-Order of Buddhist Contemplatives line in succession to Jiyu Kennett;[2] their Zen center has become the largest Zen congregation in Oregon.[4] Carlson's main teaching emphasis is the implementation of spiritual practice into daily life.[3] Her family religious education program was developed from Unitarian Universalist practices, transformed by Buddhist principles.[5] It is the largest Buddhist child education program in Oregon, and one of the largest and oldest in the United States.[4]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Dharma Rain". www.dharma-rain.org. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  2. ^ a b c Ford, James; Barry Magid (2006). Zen Master Who?: A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen. Boston: Wisdom Publications. p. 143. ISBN 978-0-86171-509-1.
  3. ^ a b Boucher, Sandy (1998). Opening the Lotus: A Woman's Guide to Buddhism. Boston: Beacon Press. p. 164. ISBN 978-0-8070-7309-4.
  4. ^ a b "Fact sheets". www.dharma-rain.org. Retrieved 2009-02-10.
  5. ^ "An interview with Rev. James Ishmael Ford (Zeno Myoun, Roshi)". Buddhist Channel. Retrieved 2009-02-10.