The Zen Studies Society was established in 1956 to assist the Buddhist scholar D.T. Suzuki in his efforts to introduce Zen to the West. In 1965, it came under the leadership of a Japanese Zen monk, Eido Tai Shimano, who shifted the emphasis towards zazen (Zen meditation) practice. With his dedicated energy, and the help of many dharma friends and supporters, two centers for Zen practice came into being – New York Zendo Shobo-ji, on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, and Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, deep in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York.
In 1972, Eido Shimano Roshi received dharma transmission from Soen Nakagawa Roshi, and today serves as the abbot and spiritual teacher of these two zendos in the Japanese Rinzai Zen tradition.
©2010 The Zen Studies Society, Inc.
