Merle Kodo Boyd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Merle Kodo Boyd |
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| Religion | Zen |
| School | Zen Peacemaker Circle |
| Lineage | White Plum Asanga |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | December 23, 1944 Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 20, 2022 (aged 77) Durham, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Children | One daughter |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Lincroft Zen Sangha |
| Predecessor | Wendy Egyoku Nakao |
Merle Kodo Boyd (born December 23, 1944 – died February 20, 2022) was an American Zen Buddhist nun. She made history as the first African-American woman to become a Zen Buddhist teacher. This special achievement is called Dharma transmission. She received this from her teacher, Wendy Egyoku Nakao, in a group called the White Plum Asanga.
After becoming a teacher in March 2006, Kodo Boyd started her own Zen center in New Jersey. It was called the Lincroft Zen Sangha. This center is now part of the Zen Peacemaker Circle, which was created by Tetsugen Bernard Glassman and his wife Sandra Jishu Holmes.
Contents
Early Life and Finding Zen
Merle Kodo Boyd was born in Texas on December 23, 1944. This was a time when many places in the United States had laws that separated people based on their race. Before she became a Zen nun, Boyd worked as a psychotherapist, helping people with their thoughts and feelings.
Her interest in Zen Buddhism began when she saw an old Chinese painting from the 12th century. The painting was called Solitary Angler and showed a person fishing alone on a big ocean. Kodo Boyd felt a strong connection to this painting. She wrote that it "called to me in my own voice."
After seeing the painting, she started looking for more books about Zen. She found instructions for a type of meditation called zazen. She began practicing this meditation by herself in her bedroom, using a bed pillow and blankets.
Her Journey to Becoming a Zen Teacher
Kodo Boyd meditated in her room for a few years, reading books and learning on her own. She thought about going to a Zen center, but she was worried about being the only African-American person there. She felt nervous about not knowing the rules or rituals of a Zen center.
However, her desire to practice Zen was very strong. Eventually, she decided to go to a center. She started meditating with a small group led by a teacher named Sr. Janet Richardson.
Kodo Boyd continued her studies and practice. In 1994, she received a special ceremony called Jukai. In 1996, she became a priest. Both of these steps were guided by Roshi Sandra Jishu Holmes. After Roshi Jishu passed away, Kodo Boyd continued her practice with Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao. From Roshi Nakao, she received Preceptor Transmission in 2002 and then the important Dharma Transmission in March 2006. This meant she was now a fully recognized Zen teacher.
Later Life and Legacy
Merle Kodo Boyd passed away in Durham, North Carolina, on February 20, 2022. She was 77 years old. Her work as the first African-American woman to receive Dharma transmission in Zen Buddhism is an important part of Zen history in the United States. She helped make Zen practice more open and welcoming to everyone.
See also
- Buddhism in the United States
- Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
