Last summer, Rebecca, Bev and I all spoke to Tenshin Roshi (Reb Anderson Roshi) about our wish to ordain as priests in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. As far as I know, since the 1980’s, Tenshin Roshi has only ever agreed to train priests in residence at Green Gulch and has required a five year commitment to this residential training. For various reasons, Rebecca, Bev and I are all unable to fulfil this commitment, as many who have come before us have also been unable, however, present circumstances have led Reb to have a change of heart and he has opened to the possibility of working with visiting senior priests such as Ingen Breen and Catherine Gammon to ordain and train us in the UK. This turning has come as a welcome surprise to many of us, and it opens the real possibility of establishing Suzuki Roshi’s lineage firmly on English soil. The readiness of the candidates and the evolution of the sangha they would serve, seem to have come together at this critical time, and we are grateful to Tenshin Roshi for supporting this opportunity to grow together.
On my recent visit to Green Gulch, I took the opportunity to speak with many senior priests there about what it is to train as a priest and how this might translate into the more flexible arrangement of us training from afar. The main theme that came out of this for me was how priest training was a community enterprise. As priest candidates, we have been meeting and talking with each other and Myoyu who has already ordained, but will need to complete his training here in the UK with us. Our conversations have been exploring our motivation and what would be different were we to receive priest ordination with Tenshin Roshi. In particular we have been considering the forms of practice that would make up the container for our training.
It seems important to me that to fulfil our ordination intentions to serve in the UK, we seek to deepen the mutual support of our sangha. In this spirit, we have shared enthusiasm that others might approach their teacher to explore joining us on this journey. We invite your ideas, energy and commitment to help this project in whatever way seems appropriate.
With deep respect and gratitude,
Angyu Devin Ashwood
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