User talk:Zenjam

Zen Community of Chicago
The Zen Community of Chicago was founded in 1994 by Rev. Robert Joshin Althouse Roshi and Rev. June Ryushin Kaililani Tanoue. The vision for this community was born in Hawaii in the early 90's when Althouse Roshi founded the Zen Center of Hawaii. He and his wife worked together to develop this Hawaiian sangha. In 1996, Althouse Roshi started the I Ka Pno Community garden on the Big Island of Hawaii with a mission of modeling sustainable agriculture, celebrating biological and cultural diversity and nurturing community. In 2000, both Althouse and his wife, June moved to California to work for the Peacemaker Community. When they left that organization several years later, they landed in Chicago. They started the Zen Community of Chicago (in Oak Park) and continued developing their zen and hula community together.

Althouse Roshi studied in both the Zen and Vajrayana traditions. His main teachers were Taizan Maezumi Roshi, Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, Gyaltrul Rinpoche, Bernie Glassman Roshi and Nicolee Jikyo McMahon Roshi. He received Dharma Transmission from Jikyo Roshi in 1998 and Inka from her in 2008.

Due to Althouse Roshi's efforts in 2008, the Empty Sound Temple now has a beautiful Japanese Garden which is enjoyed by many visitors to the temple. The temple offers regular medtiation, classes, workshop and retreats. They also offer many ways for beginners to get started with a meditation practice. The temple also hosts a Hula school called Halau I Ka Pono. The teacher is June Kaililani Tanoue, Kumu Hula (Master Teacher of Hula).