| Berkeley Zen Center | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Sōtō |
| Location | |
| Location | 1931 Russell Street, Berkeley, California 94703 |
| Country | United States |
  Shown within Oakland, California  Berkeley Zen Center (San Francisco Bay Area)  Berkeley Zen Center (California)  Berkeley Zen Center (the United States)  Berkeley Zen Center (North America) | |
| Geographic coordinates | 37°51′24″N 122°16′12″W / 37.856540°N 122.269917°W |
| Architecture | |
| Founder | Sojun Mel Weitsman Shunryu Suzuki |
| Website | |
| www.berkeleyzencenter.org | |
Berkeley Zen Center (BZC), temple name Shogakuji (祥岳寺, Shōgaku-ji), is an Sōtō Zen Buddhist practice centre located in Berkeley, California currently led by Hozan Alan Senauke. An informal affiliate to the San Francisco Zen Center (SFZC),[1] BZC was founded in 1967 by Sojun Mel Weitsman and Shunryu Suzuki as a satellite group for the SFZC.[2] Despite founding the centre, Weitsman was not installed as an abbot there until 1985, one year after receiving Dharma transmission from Hoitsu Suzuki.[3] Weitsman's Dharma heir, Alan Senauke, lives on-site with his wife Laurie Senauke (as of 1999) and also works for the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.[4] Another former teacher at BZC was Maylie Scott, who died in 2001.[5] In 1969, Zenkei Blanche Hartman began sitting zazen at BZC, receiving Dharma transmission from Weitsman in 1988.[1] In 1979, the centre relocated to its current location on Russell Street—and today houses a small group of residents who live on site. BZC has an active community and a full schedule of zen service, student talks, dharma talks, and zazen. [2]