Elihu Genmyo Smith, Roshi - Guiding Teacher
Elihu Genmyo Smith began his Zen training in 1974 at the Zen Studies Society in New York
with Soen Nakagawa Roshi and
Eido Shimano Roshi. He continued his training at Zen Center of
Los Angeles, where he was ordained by Hakuyu Maezumi Roshi in 1979. After
completing formal koan study with Maezumi Roshi in 1984 he continued his training with
Charlotte Joko Beck at Zen Center of San Diego. Genmyo received Dharma transmission
(shiho) and authorization to teach from Joko in 1992
and Inka from Seisen Roshi in the White Plumb
lineage. He currently lives in
California and periodically travels to Illinois to lead sesshin at PZC.
Genmyo is a co-founder of the Ordinary Mind
Zen School and is the author of "Ordinary Life, Wondrous Life" which is published by the Prairie
Zen Center and "Everything is the Way: Ordinary Mind Zen" published by Shambhala.
Ed Mushin Russell - Resident Teacher
Ed Mushin Russell began formal Zen training with
Genmyo in 1999. After taking the precepts (jukai),
serving as Genmyo's attendant for 8 years and
completing koan study, he recieved Dharma
transmission (shiho) and became Genmyo's Dharma heir
in 2015. In addition to being the resident teacher at Prairie
Zen Center, Mushin also manages the online functions
including the web site, email communications and
Zoom connectivity.
Jim Shojo Zivic - Resident Priest
Jim
Shojo Zivic began Zen training at the San Francisco
Zen Center where he received lay ordination in 1980.
He later practiced at the Berkeley Zen Center and
the Berkeley Buddhist Priory (Order of Buddhist
Contemplatives). Shojo moved to the Midwest and
became a student of Genmyo in 2003. He was ordained
as a priest by Genmyo in 2016 and lives at
Prairie Zen Center.
Heidi Myoon Von Gunden - Priest
Heidi
Myoon Von Gunden began Zen practice in 1973 with
Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles after having been a
Catholic nun for ten years. She later studied at the
Zen Buddhist Temple in Chicago with Kongo Roshi who
officiated at her jukai. She became Joko Beck's
student in 1986 at the Zen Center of San Diego.
After moving to Champaign, where she was a professor
of music composition/theory, she was instrumental in the
founding of the Prairie Zen Center. Heidi was
ordained a priest in 2019 by Elihu Genmyo Smith.