Hojin Sensei--Female Zen Buddhist master

Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei received the priestly transmission (the transmission of the Precepts) from Daido Roshi, who began the process in 2009, and from Shugen Roshi, who completed the transmission in 2012. In 2017, she received full dharma transmission from Shugen Roshi. She serves as the Training Director for the Mountains and Rivers Order and Abbess of the Zen Center of NYC. Hojin Sensei began her artistic career early and has taught drawing, ceramics, and painting, opening people up to the wonders and mysteries of the creative process. She has been in full-time residential training at the Monastery since 1990.

Hojin Sensei has visited Buffalo multiple times for several annual meditation retreats (sesshins) hosted by the Buffalo Zen Dharma Community.  And she continues to support our sangha.  Before she came to Zen Mountain Monastery, she studied art which she has used in her working with students in the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism to develop their art practice--one of the Eights Gates of Zen training.   Her style of teaching is very warm, personable, and encouraging--not at all like the foreboding Zen Masters of Zen history.   She will probably be remembered most by me forher kindness when she officiated my father's funeral.   Now that she is a sensei, and she has more responsibilities not only at Zen Mountain Monastery but also at the Fire Lotus Temple in New York City, she may not be as available for our retreats as before.  But, she will always be welcome; we hope to see her soon!