Last Saturday, September 17, we celebrated 16 new bodhisattvas taking the precepts and entering Buddha’s way – nine students at City Center, and seven at Green Gulch Farm.  It was a joy to witness such optimistic and enthusiastic practitioners filling the halls and courtyards of our temples.

Front row: Qian Li; Katherine Kuang; Keiryu Liên Shutt; Ryushin Paul Haller; Anshin Rosalie Curtis; Glenda Sell; Ivan Gallo; Phillip Neiman. Back row: Anshi Zachary Smith; Rebecca Sanjabi; Loretta Ippolito; Helena Enahoro; Cody Miller. Photo: Shundo David Haye

From left: Glenda Sell, Ryushin Paul Haller, Anshi Zachary Smith, and Zach’s students Ivan Gallo and Rebecca Sanjabi, who were given the precepts on Zach’s behalf by his teacher Paul. Photo: Shundo David Haye.

Anshin Rosalie Curtis, center, with her students Loretta Ippolito and Cody Miller. Photo: Shundo David Haye.

At City Center, the preceptors were Ryushin Paul Haller, Anshin Rosalie Curtis, and Keiryu Liên Shutt. All of the nine students are members of the wider sangha, finding ways to practice in the midst of their householder lives. Some are volunteers at Saturday Sangha and other affinity groups. Of the nine, the first three were given their new names and robes by Ryushin Paul Haller:

• Glenda Sell: Buddha Ocean Wondrous Abode Bu Kai Myo Kyo
• Rebecca Sanjabi (Zachary Smith’s student): Deep Spring Awakening Joy Shin Sen Go Etsu
• Ivan Gallo (also Zachary Smith’s student): Bright Mirror Compassion Ocean Kō Kyō Ji Kai

Anshin Rosalie Curtis was the preceptor for these two students:

• Loretta Ippolito: Sincere Way Tranquil Garden Sei Dō An Tei
• Cody Miller: Cultivating Compassion All Embracing ShÅ« Ji Kai Yō

Keiryu Liên Shutt, center, with her four students: from left, Katherine Kuang; Phillip Neiman; Qian Li; Helena Enahoro. Photo: Deborah Svoboda.

Keiryu Liên Shutt was the preceptor for four students:

• Katherine Kuang: Expanding Heart-Mind Serenity Garden Ten Shin Jaku En
• Phillip Neiman: Devoted Heart-Mind Luminous Love Toku Shin Myō Jin
• Helena Enahoro: Cloud River Joyfully Authentic Un Sen Kei Shin
• Qian Li: Authentic Practice Joyfully Whole Sho Gyō Kei Zen 

Three nuns from the Truc Lam Vietnamese Zen tradition came to witness the ceremony: from left, Cô Phương Thiền, Shosan Vicki Austin, Sư cô Viên Bổn, Ni Sư Thuần Tuệ, Keiryu Liên Shutt. Photo: Deborah Svoboda.

At Green Gulch, the preceptor was Eijun Linda Cutts. The seven ordinands were:

• Dianne Griffin (Laura Burges’ student), whose new name is: Shining River Mirror Wisdom Shō Sen Kyō Chi
• Jey Ehrenhalt: Listening Earth Vast Wholeness Chō Chi Kō Zen
• Annette Aalborg: Meadow Star Unshakable Trust Gen Shō Ki Shin
• Duras Ruggles: Bamboo Heart Bright Wisdom Chiku Shin Myō Kei
• Holly Warner: True Companion Overflowing Gratitude Shin YÅ« Tan On
• Mariachiara Tallacchini: Luminous Devotion Eternal Truth Speaking Myō ChÅ« Ei Gaku
• Deirdre McKibbin: Midnight Stillness Turning Toward Awakening Ya Sei Ten Go

Two of the students came the whole way from Europe – Deirdre McKibbin from Ireland and Mariachiara Tallacchini from Italy – and, like all the ordinands, made a big effort to complete the preparations for the ceremony.