Mel Weitsman | |
|---|---|
 Sojun Mel Weitsman wielding a hossu. | |
| Title | Abbot |
| Personal | |
| Born | Mel Weitsman July 20, 1929 Southern California, U.S. |
| Died | January 7, 2021 (aged 91) |
| Religion | Zen Buddhism |
| Nationality | American |
| School | Sōtō |
| Lineage | Shunryu Suzuki |
| Senior posting | |
| Teacher | Shunryu Suzuki |
| Based in | Berkeley Zen Center |
| Predecessor | Hoitsu Suzuki |
| Successor | Zenkei Blanche Hartman Zoketsu Norman Fischer Ryushin Paul Haller Peter Schneider (zen priest) Hozan Alan Senauke Maylie Scott Josho Pat Phelan Grace Schireson Dairyu Michael Wenger Myōgen Steve Stücky Shōsan Victoria Austin Steve Weintraub Raul Moncayo Gil Fronsdal Fran Tribe Mary Mocine Myōan Grace Schireson Daijaku Kinst Shinshu Roberts Teah Strozer Chikudō Lew Richmond Edward Espe Brown Idilio Ceniceros |
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Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman (July 20, 1929 – January 7, 2021), born Mel Weitsman, was an American Buddhist who was the founder, abbot and guiding teacher of Berkeley Zen Center located in Berkeley, California. Weitsman was a Soto Zen roshi practicing in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, having received Dharma transmission in 1984 from Suzuki's son Hoitsu. He was also a co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, where he served from 1988 to 1997. Weitsman was also editor of the book Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai, based on talks given by Suzuki on the Sandokai.