Kodo Boyd was born in Texas on December 23, 1944,[3] during the era of segregation. Her family, like most other African-American families of this period, suffered the pain and hardship of racial discrimination. Before coming to Zen, Boyd was a licensed psychotherapist.[4] She first developed an interest in Zen Buddhism after viewing a 12th-century Chinese painting titled Solitary Angler in a book, depicting an angler fishing upon a wide-open sea. Boyd has written, "The painting called to me in my own voice. I immediately sought out more books and found instructions for sitting zazen. Using a bed pillow and blankets, I began the practice alone in a corner of my bedroom."[4]
Kodo Boyd practiced in this way for a couple of years, reading books and practicing zazen in her bedroom. While she often contemplated going to a Zen center, she was also wary of potential racial tension she imagined she would face were she to do so. She commented, "I knew no black people practicing Zen. The thought of entering a zendo knowing nothing of the etiquette and ritual was frightening enough. Being the only black person there would, I felt, draw more attention than I could stand. But the pull of practice was strong and, finally, I ventured out."[4] She began sitting with a small group led by a teacher named Sr. Janet Richardson, a Dharma heir of Robert Jinsen Kennedy and Tetsugen Bernard Glassman. According to the Lincroft website, "She received Jukai in 1994 and Priest Ordination in 1996 from Roshi Sandra Jishu Holmes. After Roshi Jishu's death, Kodo continued her practice with Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao, from whom she received Preceptor Transmission in 2002 and Dharma Transmission in March 2006."[5]
Gutiérrez Baldoquín, Hilda (2004). Dharma, Color, and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism. Parallax Press. ISBN1-888375-42-6. OCLC 56645894.
External links
Media related to Merle Kodo Boyd at Wikimedia Commons
January 13, 2023
merle, kodo, boyd, december, 1944, february, 2022, american, buddhist, first, african, american, woman, receive, dharma, transmission, buddhism, dharma, heir, wendy, egyoku, nakao, white, plum, asanga, receiving, transmission, march, 2006, lincroft, sangha, je. Merle Kodo Boyd December 23 1944 February 20 2022 was an American Zen Buddhist nun She was the first African American woman to receive Dharma transmission in Zen Buddhism as a Dharma heir of Wendy Egyoku Nakao in the White Plum Asanga 1 Receiving transmission in March 2006 she led the Lincroft Zen Sangha in New Jersey a center which she founded that is currently part of the Zen Peacemaker Circle established by Tetsugen Bernard Glassman and his wife Sandra Jishu Holmes 2 Merle Kodo BoydPersonalBorn 1944 12 23 December 23 1944Texas U S DiedFebruary 20 2022 2022 02 20 aged 77 Durham North Carolina U S ReligionZenNationalityAmericanChildrenOne daughterSchoolZen Peacemaker CircleLineageWhite Plum AsangaSenior postingBased inLincroft Zen SanghaPredecessorWendy Egyoku NakaoWebsitewww wbr lincroftzen wbr orgKodo Boyd was born in Texas on December 23 1944 3 during the era of segregation Her family like most other African American families of this period suffered the pain and hardship of racial discrimination Before coming to Zen Boyd was a licensed psychotherapist 4 She first developed an interest in Zen Buddhism after viewing a 12th century Chinese painting titled Solitary Angler in a book depicting an angler fishing upon a wide open sea Boyd has written The painting called to me in my own voice I immediately sought out more books and found instructions for sitting zazen Using a bed pillow and blankets I began the practice alone in a corner of my bedroom 4 Kodo Boyd practiced in this way for a couple of years reading books and practicing zazen in her bedroom While she often contemplated going to a Zen center she was also wary of potential racial tension she imagined she would face were she to do so She commented I knew no black people practicing Zen The thought of entering a zendo knowing nothing of the etiquette and ritual was frightening enough Being the only black person there would I felt draw more attention than I could stand But the pull of practice was strong and finally I ventured out 4 She began sitting with a small group led by a teacher named Sr Janet Richardson a Dharma heir of Robert Jinsen Kennedy and Tetsugen Bernard Glassman According to the Lincroft website She received Jukai in 1994 and Priest Ordination in 1996 from Roshi Sandra Jishu Holmes After Roshi Jishu s death Kodo continued her practice with Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao from whom she received Preceptor Transmission in 2002 and Dharma Transmission in March 2006 5 Kodo Boyd died in Durham North Carolina on February 20 2022 at the age of 77 6 Contents 1 See also 2 Notes 3 References 4 External linksSee also EditBuddhism in the United States Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United StatesNotes Edit Ford 166 Roshi Bernie s Family Lineage www peacemakercommunity org Archived from the original on 2007 12 28 Passing of Roshi Merle Kodo Boyd Lincroft Zen Sangha Retrieved 27 February 2022 a b c Gutierrez Baldoquin 101 105 Lincroft Zen Sangha Bio lincroftzen org Retrieved 2017 03 22 Roshi Merle Kodo Boyd first fully transmitted African American Zen teacher in the United States has diedReferences EditFord James Ishmael 2006 Zen Master Who A Guide to the People and Stories of Zen Wisdom Publications ISBN 0 86171 509 8 Gutierrez Baldoquin Hilda 2004 Dharma Color and Culture New Voices in Western Buddhism Parallax Press ISBN 1 888375 42 6 OCLC 56645894 External links Edit Media related to Merle Kodo Boyd at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Merle Kodo Boyd amp oldid 1096064776, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
