Empty Hand Zen Center- The Den of Zen

                                          www.emptyhandzen.org
This former trolley car repair station kept New Rochelle connected  in the early 1900's. Today, this Lawton avenue building continues to  provide connectivity through enlightenment,wisdom and meditation. The Empty Hand Zen Center is here to teach the art of Buddhism. During my visit, Susan Ji-on Postal  showed me a work of art in which the word NIN (patience) was written in bold letters. Throughout the studio various works of art that remained from a showing the previous week. As I thanked her for the tour and rushed out leaving my parcel behind; I realized that it takes more than a ten (minutes) to become Zen.

 

Susan Ji-on Postal, teacher and founder of the Empty Hand Zen Center, entered Buddhist practice in 1970. Originally learning from a teacher of Dzogchen in the Tibetan tradition, she began Zen studies with Glassman Roshi at the Zen Community of New York in 1980. In 1987 she continued under the guidance of Maurine Myo-on Stuart who ordained her as Zen Priest at the Rye Meeting House in 1988. Prior to Maurine’s death in 1990, Susan received the encouragement and blessing of her teacher to continue guiding practice for the growing Sangha in Rye. Since 2000, Susan has been studying with Darlene Cohen, Zen Teacher of the Russian River Zendo. On January 18, 2008, Susan received Dharma Transmission in the Soto Lineage of Suzuki Roshi from her teacher in Guerneville, California.  Michael Wenger, Dean of Buddhist Studies of the San Francisco Zen Center and Darlene's teacher, served as guiding instructor for this moving eight day Ceremony of Entrustment which marks the completion of training.

                                               Not So Secret Garden