2012 SZBA National Conference set for this October

2008 participants

The Soto Zen Buddhist Association, comprised of Soto Zen teachers working to preserve and promote Soto Zen practice in North America, will be holding its 5th National Conference this October 3-7, 2012, at Great Vow Zen Monastery, in Clatskanie, Oregon. These conferences allow lineages to connect to discuss membership requirements and standards of training. This event is not open to the general public.

In 2010 a Standards Committee was formed within the SZBA; it conducted a survey among the various sanghas the SZBA represents and was able to identify what training standards these practice sites have in place. Up for discussion at this year's conference is whether or not the SZBA should adopt "training standards to recognize Dharma transmission."

To get a sense of the varying perspectives on this issue, you can read this dialogue, over at Sweeping Zen, between SZBA members James Ishmael Ford Roshi and Kyogen Carlson Roshi.

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