Roshi Musai Walter
Roshi Musai Walter, teacher and priest at Prajna Zendo, began studying Zen in 1970 with Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. He later became a student of Taizan Maezumi Roshi and remained with him until Roshi's death in 1995. Musai Roshi's lineage includes both Rinzai and Soto practices, through his root teacher, Maezumi Roshi.
Musai received dharma transmission from Jitsudo Sensei, a dharma successor of Maezumi Roshi, and inka, the final approval that confers full independence as a teacher, from Genpo Roshi, another of Maezumi Roshi's successors. In addition to Zen practice, Musai Roshi studied with Chogyam Trungpa Rimpoche.
Note: a December 2009 interview with Musai Roshi appears on the Sweeping Zen website at http://sweepingzen.com/2009/12/29/sydney-musai-walter-interview/. In January 2010, Musai's Dharma talk at a Mahasangha gathering, Ameland, off the coast of Netherlands, was filmed; you can view this on vimeo.com.
Find Musai's new blog at Sweeping Zen
Sensei Daishin Brighton
Daishin Sensei was formally educated at the University of Chicago and Brandeis University where he taught for a brief period of time. He moved to Santa Fe in the early '70's and has worked ever since as a hand engraver and printmaker.
Daishin received dharma transmission from Musai Roshi in December, 2007.
The style of Zen Buddhism practiced at Prajna
Zendo reflects the influence of Musai's teachers: Jitsudo Sensei, Genpo
Roshi, and Maezumi Roshi. Maezumi Roshi received dharma transmission in
both the Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen. He blended the elements of
both schools into a vibrant teaching that encompasses the stillness of
shikantaza (just sitting) and the energy of koan practice (the use of
seemingly paradoxical stories as teaching devices). To this mix, Genpo
Roshi has added the Big Mind process, bridging Western psychological
understanding and authentic Zen practice.
Prajna Zendo welcomes people from all walks of life to pursue the
opportunity to become intimate with a rich tradition that has now taken
firm root in America.
About the Practice at Prajna Zendo
Prajna Zendo is a community Zen Center, with no residential program.
For those who wish to pursue Zen practice outside the context of a
residential center, we offer the opportunity to practice casually,
moderately, or intensively. That decision is up to you.
Prajna Zendo has two qualified teachers--Musai Walter Roshi and his
dharma successor, Daishin Brighton Sensei. We offer a broad based
practice, including koan study, shikantaza (just sitting), and Big Mind
practice. Koan study and shikantaza are the traditional practices of
the Rinzai and Soto schools respectively. Big Mind practice is a
teaching recently developed by Genpo Roshi that joins traditional Zen
practice with the insights of Western psychology and provides rapid and
dramatic insights into our Buddha Nature. 
Musai Roshi’s lineage includes both Rinzai and Soto practices, through his root teacher, Maezumi Roshi [photograph to right]. Musai received dharma transmission from Jitsudo Sensei, a dharma successor of Maezumi Roshi, and inka, the final approval that confers full independence as a teacher, from Genpo Roshi, another of Maezumi Roshi's successors.
This combination presents those who undertake to practice at
Prajna Zendo a rare opportunity to Realize their True Nature, and to
bring that Realization into all aspects of life.
Prajna Zendo Intensive Retreats
Prajna Zendo is not a residential or monastic center.
All of our members and teachers have work in the world. Still, our
intention is to offer a range of practice opportunities, so that those
who want a taste of Zen teaching and practice can be served, as well as
those who want intensive practice.
In addition to our weekly schedule of zazen and dharma talks, we offer eight retreats during the year: two 3-day sesshin, 2 seven-day sesshin, and 4 one-day zazenkai. Each of these retreats include zazen, teaching through talks and workshops incorporating Big Mind practice, and private interviews with Prajna Zendo’s two teachers, Daishin Sensei and Musai Roshi.
Teachers and senior students at Prajna Zendo are always ready to discuss these retreats with anyone who would like more information. Those with limited experience in sitting zazen should contact one of the teachers about the advisability of participating in a retreat. You can call us, or use the e-mail address at the bottom of the page.
Top of Page