I had originally put up a reflection on the differences between Zen priests and teachers here. But not long after publishing it, I felt dissatisfied with the product. Too jumbled, not explored enough, it just didn’t work. So, I took it down. Instead, here’s our attempt at describing that difference within the organization to which I belong.
What’s the difference between a BoWZ transmitted Teacher and a BoWZ priest?
The Boundless Way Zen Mission Statement says, “The great project of Zen is awakening. Zen is about becoming ordinary, discovering who we are within the simplest moments of our lived lives.” We all dwell wholly in the realm of form and of emptiness. As with other Zen communities, Boundless Way Zen exists to support this path of discovery and awakening. BoWZ Guiding Teachers are guides in this great project. BWZ priests are fellow travelers in this great project, as are Practice Leaders, Dharma Teachers and Senior Dharma Teachers.
Each stream of Zen has addressed the various needs of its members on this path of awakening in different ways. And different communities have offered lay, monastic and priestly leadership, with somewhat different definitions of these categories of leadership.
Boundless Way Zen does not at this time support Vinaya monasticism, but does have both priestly and lay leaders. Elsewhere we describe Guiding Teachers, Practice Leaders, Dharma Teachers and Senior Dharma Teachers. This brief section is meant to explain the differences between transmitted teachers and priests.
The main difference between transmitted Guiding Teachers and priests in Boundless Way Zen is the difference between Dharma transmission and Priestly Ordination. Dharma transmission is the passing of Dharma recognition from teacher to student. The teacher publicly recognizes the student’s attainment in seeing into the essential matter of awakening to our true boundless nature.
BoWZ Guiding Teachers are experienced spiritual guides who stand in a confirmed Zen lineage, which by tradition traces the transmission of the Dharma directly from teacher to student through many centuries, ultimately reaching back to the Buddha.
BoWZ Guiding Teachers have full permission from their own teachers to function as independent teachers; to guide students in deepening practice, refining character, and awakening to self-nature. This includes leading sesshin, giving talks, and conducting interviews that may include work on the BoWZ koan curriculum.
We also recognize that even though they may not be ordained priests, BoWZ Guiding Teachers are from time to time called upon to provide some traditional ministerial functions. So, a BoWZ transmitted lay teacher may perform child dedications, weddings and funerals. They also preside at jukai ceremonies, giving the precepts to practitioners. And of course they may give Dharma Transmission to their students, whether lay or ordained.
Dharma transmission is a prerequisite for BoWZ Guiding Teachers.
Boundless Way Zen priests have extensive experience in Zen meditation, including numerous retreats, have been trained in Soto Zen ritual, have undergone formal and informal academic preparation, and have undergone the unsui tokudo ordination of Soto Zen. They may also have received the advanced denkai ordination, which authorizes them to give the precepts and to ordain, although not to give Dharma transmission.
BoWZ priests may perform many liturgical functions, which include presiding over Zen ceremonies and sutra services, and conducting life passages such as birth, marriage, and funeral ceremonies.
BoWZ priests are called to be leaders in the community and to fulfill a pastoral and ministerial role. They may minister to the emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs of sangha members who have experienced illness, loss, grief, or injury. They may also be engaged in any traditional ministerial role in the larger community. BoWZ priests are usually registered with the Soto Zen Buddhist Association as either associate or full members.
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