Traditional Soto Zen Service 10:30 AM

Dharma Talk: 10:30 AM

Speaker:   Rev. Grace Schireson

Dharma Talk

Zen and Challenging Times

Rev. Grace Schireson began her Zen practice in 1966 under Shunryu Suzuki-Roshi at the San Francisco Zen Center. In 1985, she began practicing under Sojun Mel Weitsman-roshi at the Berkeley Zen Center, where she served as president from 1992 through 1994. In 1995, she started her Monastic training at Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery, where she received Dharma  Transmission in 2005. In 2005, she also received Zen Master accreditation in Japan and was a guest lecturer at Tokyo University, Buddhist Studies.

She has authored the following books:

Zen Women: Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens and Macho Masters

Zen Bridge: The Teachings of Keido Fukushima

Naked in the Zendo: Uptight Zen,Wild-Ass Zen and Enlightenment Wherever you Are

She has also published articles in Shambhala Sun, Buddhadharma, and Tricycle magazines, and she founded two practice centers and a retreat center under the Central Valley Zen Foundation.

Professionally, she is a clinical psychologist with a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The Wright Institute, Berkeley. 

Her hobbies are horseback riding, bicycling, swimming, and cross-country skiing. She is married with two grown sons and four grandchildren.