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Welcome to Bellevue Dharma!
What can I offer? That depends on what you need. I would say the relationship is mentor to student, and I can offer foundational teaching in Zen Buddhism, as I have learned and experienced it over several decades.
For instance, many people mistakenly understand (Zen) meditation as an experience of no-thinking, or "stopping of mind." That's a pretty hard bar to reach if you have a job and family. Frustration usually comes early with these expectations and it's easy to quit.
Properly understood the Zazen experience is taught to be as stillness in body and observing thoughts and feelings that are arising. Finding ways to let go of the attachment, returning attention to the present moment.
This sounds like nothing much. I assure you it is not.
To elaborate, the "present moment" can begin in various ways--shifting awareness to the body, relaxing, or focusing on one's breath. We can focus on the quality of our awareness or emotions, accepting what is there. Sometimes it's a lovely experience. Other times it seems like nothing is happening.
In Zen, either way, our sitting is grist for the mill. The important thing is to have a regular practice of Zazen.
I can also assist students in reducing, not eliminating, some common, but serious, pitfalls. For instance, a common one is negatively judging our Zen meditation practice. As a mentor, who has been there and done that, I can help you to reduce some of these painful emotions, and feel better about your Dharma practices.
Feel free to contact me to set up a brief conversation to find out more. BellevueDharma@gmail.com
For twelve years, my wife and I facilitated Bellevue Dharma, offering both Zoom and in-person meetings in Washington State.
I am affiliated with Mission Mountain Zen in Montana and have been a member of the Silent Thunder Order for the past six years. The Silent Thunder Order is a network of practice centers under the direction of Taiun Elliston Roshi.
I am currently a novice priest (Katsuryu), ordained by Sensei Smyers in May 2025 in Dayton, Montana. I am also a member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association and adhere to the ethics policies of these organizations.
I began my Zen practice in 1981 with Soyu Matsuoka Roshi at the Zen Temple of Long Beach, California. I was ordained as a priest in 1986 and received the Dharma Seal from Roshi in 1992.
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