Mel Weitsman
Mel Weitsman | |
|---|---|
Sojun Mel Weitsman wielding a hossu. | |
| Title | Abbot |
| Personal life | |
| Born | Mel Weitsman July 20, 1929 Southern California, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 2021 (aged 91) |
| Nationality | American |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Zen Buddhism |
| School | Sōtō |
| Lineage | Shunryū Suzuki |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Shunryū Suzuki |
| Based in | Berkeley Zen Center |
| Predecessor | Hoitsu Suzuki |
| Successor |
|
| Part of a series on |
| Zen Buddhism |
|---|
| Part of a series on |
| Western Buddhism |
|---|
Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman (July 20, 1929 – January 7, 2021), born Mel Weitsman, was an American Buddhist who was the founder, abbot and guiding teacher of Berkeley Zen Center located in Berkeley, California. Weitsman was a Sōtō Zen roshi practicing in the lineage of Shunryū Suzuki, having received Dharma transmission in 1984 from Suzuki's son Hoitsu. He was also a co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, where he served from 1988 to 1997. Weitsman was also editor of the book Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai, based on talks given by Suzuki on the Sandokai.