
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Soto Zen Buddhism in North America
9:30 am – 10 am: Zazen (Zen Meditation)
10:05 am – 11 am Dharma Talk by Rev. Yokoyama
Please join the Village Zendo in welcoming Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama of the Sozenji Buddhist Temple, Montebello, California.
In his talk, Rev. Yokoyama will share his perspective on religious pluralism within the Soto Zen tradition and the thread of Zen that runs through diverse expressions based upon his experience as an abbot of a rural community temple in Japan, a minister of a Japanese-American Buddhist church and temple, an interpreter for the Soto Zen Buddhism North America office as well as a board member of ASZB and SZBA. Rev. Yokoyama wishes to celebrate the diverse Soto Zen Buddhist communities in Japan and North America as we attempt to forge a close international and intercultural ties with the North American Zen centers in the coming century.
Rev. Gyokei Yokoyama currently serves as Kokusai Fukyoshi (Internationally Missionary) of Sozenji Buddhist Temple, Montebello, California, Secretary of Soto Zen Buddhism North America, Board member of Association of Soto Zen Buddhists (ASZB), and Board member of Soto Zen Buddhist North America (SZBA) He is a former minister of Long Beach Buddhist Church, a non-denominational Japanese American Buddhist Church and the former abbot of Iwoji temple, Shinshiro, Aichi Pref., Japan.