Joko Beck | |
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Title | Zen Teacher |
Personal | |
Born | |
Died | June 15, 2011 | (aged 94)
Religion | Zen Buddhism |
School | Ordinary Mind School |
Senior posting | |
Predecessor | Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi |
Part of a series on |
Zen Buddhism |
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Charlotte Joko Beck (March 27, 1917 – June 15, 2011 [1]) was an American Zen teacher and the author of the books Everyday Zen: Love and Work and Nothing Special: Living Zen. [2]
Born in New Jersey, Beck studied music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and worked for some time as a pianist and piano teacher. She married and raised a family of four children, then separated from her husband and worked as a teacher, secretary, and assistant in a university department. She began Zen practice in her 40s with Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi in Los Angeles, [3] and later with Hakuun Yasutani and Soen Nakagawa. [3] Beck received Dharma transmission from Taizan Maezumi Roshi in 1978, [3] but broke with Maezumi over his actions and opened Zen Center San Diego in 1983, [3] serving as its head teacher until July 2006. [4]
Beck was responsible for a number of important innovations in Zen teaching. Because she was adept at teaching students to work with their psychological states, she attracted a number of students who were interested in the relationship between Zen and modern psychology. Several of her Dharma heirs are practicing psychologists/psychiatrists. [5] In 1995 Joko, along with three of her Dharma heirs, founded the Ordinary Mind Zen School.
Shortly after Beck’s departure in 2006, she revoked Dharma transmission from two senior students: Ezra Bayda and Elizabeth Hamilton. Beck also stated that Zen Center San Diego should not claim to represent her or her teaching. [6] [5] [7] In 2006 Joko moved to Prescott, Arizona, where she continued to teach until she retired as a teacher in late 2010. In the spring of 2010, Joko announced Gary Nafstad as her last Dharma successor. [6] [5]
Beck died on June 15, 2011, at age 94. [1]
Joko Beck appointed nine teachers: [8]
From two other teachers she later sought to revoke her appointment: [9]
Joko Beck | |
---|---|
Title | Zen Teacher |
Personal | |
Born | |
Died | June 15, 2011 | (aged 94)
Religion | Zen Buddhism |
School | Ordinary Mind School |
Senior posting | |
Predecessor | Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi |
Part of a series on |
Zen Buddhism |
---|
Part of a series on |
Western Buddhism |
---|
Charlotte Joko Beck (March 27, 1917 – June 15, 2011 [1]) was an American Zen teacher and the author of the books Everyday Zen: Love and Work and Nothing Special: Living Zen. [2]
Born in New Jersey, Beck studied music at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and worked for some time as a pianist and piano teacher. She married and raised a family of four children, then separated from her husband and worked as a teacher, secretary, and assistant in a university department. She began Zen practice in her 40s with Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi in Los Angeles, [3] and later with Hakuun Yasutani and Soen Nakagawa. [3] Beck received Dharma transmission from Taizan Maezumi Roshi in 1978, [3] but broke with Maezumi over his actions and opened Zen Center San Diego in 1983, [3] serving as its head teacher until July 2006. [4]
Beck was responsible for a number of important innovations in Zen teaching. Because she was adept at teaching students to work with their psychological states, she attracted a number of students who were interested in the relationship between Zen and modern psychology. Several of her Dharma heirs are practicing psychologists/psychiatrists. [5] In 1995 Joko, along with three of her Dharma heirs, founded the Ordinary Mind Zen School.
Shortly after Beck’s departure in 2006, she revoked Dharma transmission from two senior students: Ezra Bayda and Elizabeth Hamilton. Beck also stated that Zen Center San Diego should not claim to represent her or her teaching. [6] [5] [7] In 2006 Joko moved to Prescott, Arizona, where she continued to teach until she retired as a teacher in late 2010. In the spring of 2010, Joko announced Gary Nafstad as her last Dharma successor. [6] [5]
Beck died on June 15, 2011, at age 94. [1]
Joko Beck appointed nine teachers: [8]
From two other teachers she later sought to revoke her appointment: [9]