Philip Kapleau facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Philip Kapleau |
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| Religion | Buddhism |
| School | Zen Buddhism |
| Lineage | Independent |
| Personal | |
| Nationality | American |
| Born | August 20, 1912 New Haven, Connecticut, United States |
| Died | May 6, 2004 (aged 91) |
| Senior posting | |
| Title | Roshi |
| Predecessor | Hakuun Yasutani |
| Successor | Zenson Gifford, Albert Low, Mitra Bishop, Sunyana Graef, Danan Henry, Bodhin Kjolhede, Sunya Kjolhede, Lawson Sachter |
Philip Kapleau (born August 20, 1912 – died May 6, 2004) was an American teacher who helped bring Zen Buddhism to the West. He taught a special kind of Zen that mixed different Japanese styles. He also strongly believed in Buddhist vegetarianism, which means not eating meat.
Contents
Early Life and Discovering Zen
Philip Kapleau was born in New Haven, Connecticut. When he was a teenager, he worked as a bookkeeper. He later became a skilled court reporter. In 1945, he was the main court reporter for the important trials that judged the leaders of Nazi Germany. These trials are known as the Nuremberg Trials.
Later, Kapleau also reported on the Tokyo War Crimes Trials in Japan. While he was there, he became very interested in Zen Buddhism. He met D.T. Suzuki, a famous Zen scholar, and attended his talks. When Kapleau returned to America, he continued to learn from D.T. Suzuki. However, he felt that just studying Zen ideas was not enough. He wanted to experience its deeper truth. So, in 1953, he moved back to Japan.
Zen Training and Teaching
In Japan, Philip Kapleau trained very hard with several Zen masters. He spent 13 years learning and practicing Zen. In 1965, he was allowed to teach Zen himself.
In 1966, Kapleau left Japan and started the Rochester Zen Center in New York. For nearly 40 years, he taught Zen there and in many other places around the world. He taught his own students and passed on his knowledge to them.
Kapleau made some changes to the traditional Japanese Zen practice. For example, he had people chant the Heart Sutra in their local language, like English in the U.S. or Polish in Poland. He believed that Zen could fit into new cultures because its main ideas were not tied to strict old forms. He taught that it was important to keep the true meaning of Zen while letting go of things that weren't essential.
Philip Kapleau suffered from Parkinson’s Disease for several years. Even though it made it hard for him to move around, he still enjoyed talking with visitors. He died peacefully on May 6, 2004, at the Rochester Zen Center.
His Writings and Influence
Philip Kapleau wrote down talks from other Zen teachers. He also interviewed students and monks. He recorded the practical details of how to practice Zen Buddhism.
His most famous book, The Three Pillars of Zen, was published in 1965. It has been translated into 12 languages and is still popular today. This book was one of the first in English to show Zen Buddhism not just as a philosophy, but as a real way of training and living.
Kapleau was a clear and passionate writer. He taught that deep understanding and enlightenment are possible for anyone, not just monks. He was also well-known for his strong views on vegetarianism, peace, and compassion. His books are still widely read, and he greatly influenced how Zen Buddhism is practiced in Western countries. Today, his students and their students teach at Zen centers all over the world.
His book To Cherish All Life: A Buddhist Case for Becoming Vegetarian explains why he believed Buddhists should not eat meat. He argued that Buddhism teaches us not to harm any living thing.
"Grist for the Mill"
One of Philip Kapleau's favorite sayings was "Grist for the mill." This means that all our problems and challenges can be useful to us, or that we can learn something from them. His gravestone is a millstone from Chapin Mill. This is a large Buddhist retreat center whose land was given by one of the Rochester Zen Center's first members.
His Zen Lineage
Philip Kapleau appointed several people to continue his teachings. Some of these teachers have also appointed their own students to teach:
- Bishop, Mitra (born April 12, 1941). She founded the Mountain Gate monastic center in New Mexico.
- Henry, Michael Danan (born November 12, 1939). He was a founding teacher at the Zen Center of Denver.
- Kempe, Karin Roshi. A teacher at the Denver Zen Center.
- Morgareidge, Ken Roshi. He taught at the Denver Zen Center for many years.
- Sheehan, Peggy Roshi. A teacher at the Denver Zen Center.
- Martin, Rafe Roshi. A teacher at Endless Path Zendo and an author.
- Holmgren, Hoag. A teacher at Mountain Path Sangha and an author.
- Gifford, Dane Zenson (1949 - 2016). He was a teacher at the Toronto Zen Centre.
- Graef, Sunyana (born 1948). She was a teacher at the Toronto Zen Centre and now leads the Vermont Center. She also teaches at the Casa Zen in Costa Rica.
- Henderson, Taigen Sensei (born 1949). He is the abbot of the Toronto Zen Centre.
- Kjolhede, Peter Bodhin (born 1948). He is the abbot at the Rochester Zen Center.
- Odland, Kanja Sensei (born 1963). She was allowed to teach by Kjolhede in 2001.
- Ross, Lanny Sevan Keido Sei'an Sensei (born September 7, 1951). He also teaches in other Zen traditions.
- Poromaa, Mikael Sante Sensei (born 1958). He was allowed to teach by Kjolhede in 1998. He teaches at the Stockholm Zen Center in Sweden.
- Wrightson, Charlotte Amala Sensei (born 1958). She was allowed to teach by Kjolhede in 2004. She teaches at the Auckland Zen Center in New Zealand.
- Kjolhede, Sonja Sunya. She teaches at the Windhorse Zen Community in North Carolina.
- Low, Albert (1928-2016). He was a teacher at the Montreal Zen Center.
- Sachter, Lawson David. He teaches at the Windhorse Zen Community and is the spiritual director of the Clear Water Zen Center in Florida.
Two students later started their own independent teaching paths:
- Packer, Toni (1927-2013). She taught at the Springwater Center.
- Clarke, Richard (born January 31, 1933). He was a student of Philip Kapleau but later taught independently.
See also
- Buddhism in the United States
- Buddhism in the West
- Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United States
