Philip Kapleau

1912–2004Sanbō Zen

Born: 1912
Died: 2004
Studied with: Harada Daiun Sogaku (no transmission)
Studied with: Yasutani Hakuun
Founded: Rochester Zen Center (1966)
School: Sanbō Zen

American teacher who trained under Harada and Yasutani and founded the Rochester Zen Center in 1966. Author of The Three Pillars of Zen. He broke with Yasutani in 1967, before receiving formal dharma transmission.

Writings and records

The Three Pillars of Zen

1965Englishintroduction

Compiled and edited by Philip Kapleau and first published by Weatherhill in Tokyo in 1965. It presents the teaching of Yasutani Hakuun, eight accounts of kenshō, and Kapleau’s own account of his training under Harada and Yasutani.

Related people

Harada Daiun Sogaku原田祖岳

1871–1961Sōtō

Yasutani Hakuun安谷白雲

1885–1973Sanbō Zen

Sources

Rochester Zen Center, About Us · link
Rochester Zen Center, Roshi Philip Kapleau · link
Bodhin Kjolhede (teisho of 8 January 1995, edited transcript), Rochester Zen Center, Roshi Kapleau and His Teachers: Dharma Transmission and the Rochester Zen Center Lineage · link
National Diet Library, Japan, Web NDL Authorities: Philip Kapleau, ndlna 00950477 · link
Robert H. Sharf, Sanbōkyōdan: Zen and the Way of the New Religions (1995), Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 22/3–4, pp. 417–458 · link
James Ishmael Ford, Zen Master Who? A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen (2006)

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