Freedom in Tradition, Freedom from Tradition: A Conversation with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler and Joan Tollifson, Online 3/13
Description
The Zoom link to participate in this event will be provided at least 24 hours before it begins. Please call 415-354-0360 if you have any questions.
Saturday, March 13, 2:00–3:30 pm PT
What can traditional, formal Zen practice and less structured, more open approaches to awakening illuminate in one another?
Author and teacher Joan Tollifson, who left formal Zen practice to work with Toni Packer and went on to even less structured approaches, and Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler meet for a wide-ranging conversation about different approaches to practice.
Together, Abbot Jiryu and Joan will explore the possibilities and the potential limitations of formal Zen practice and of more open, nontraditional ways of waking up to the wonder of what is and seeing through what seems to get in the way.
They will consider how structure, ritual, lineage, and disciplined practice might solidify rather than soften self-centeredness and separation; what can be revealed or hidden by these forms; and what a less formal approach may open up or miss.
Their dialogue invites us to appreciate many different possibilities and to recognize the strengths and weaknesses in each of them. Above all, the conversation will remind us of the wonder of the present, the unknowable, ungraspable miracle that is this moment as it is.
Recordings:
All course sessions will be recorded, and registered participants will receive temporary access to the recordings for later viewing.
Fee Information
- Benefactor Ticket Price: $52.50 — supports others’ participation
- Standard ticket price: $42 — covers full program costs
- Member (Become an SFZC Member): $38 — for current SFZC members
- Supported: $25 — community supported rate
- Deeply Supported: $11 — for broadest accessibility
- Current SFZC residents and qualified SFZC retirees may attend this course for free. To register, please email onlineprograms@sfzc.org at least 72 hours before the program begins.
Registration Information
Or call 415-354-0360.
Joan Tollifson
Joan Tollifson has a background in Buddhism, Advaita, and other forms of nondual spirituality, but she identifies with no particular tradition. Joan spent time with many different teachers. She considers Toni Packer her main teacher.
Abbot Jiryu Rutschman-Byler
Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm
Jiryu Rutschman-Byler is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, with dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman. Jiryu has trained residentially in Zen temples since 1996, and currently serves as a co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center through his role as Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center.