Our Rinzai lineage Zen Master and Mentor, Ryūsen Jikai Roshi
(Barbara Gabrys), has studied Rinzai Zen for many years. The foundation of her Zen practice was
provided by Kyudo Nakagawa Roshi, Eizan Goto Roshi and
Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi. She is a registered
Meditation and Mindfulness teacher with Zenways. She then studied with
and received Dharma transmission in November 2016, from
Shinzan Miyamae Roshi,
in the Hakuin-Inzan line of the Rinzai tradition. She continues to deepen her Zen practice under the
mentorship of Melody Eshin Cornell Roshi. Her international research experience has made
her aware of the need to bridge the gap between different cultures and especially the Eastern and Western
ways of life. She believes that cultivation of well-being, with double focus on concentration and openness,
will lead to the recognition of true inter-connectivity between all sentient beings. To this end she
combines various philosophical and practical Zen approaches in her teaching. She is a member of Lay Zen
Teachers Association (LZTA) . Further information about Jikai Roshi can be
found in the Contact list.
Rinzai Zen Roshi, Ryūshin Shindō Genshō (Richard Jones), has been a Buddhist
since 1983. He has practised Iyengar Yoga since 1973, and combines it with other types of Yoga, Tai Chi
and Qigong exercises. He has practised Zen from 1984, being originally a student of
Daidō (Yamahata) Hōgen Roshi
(Abbot of Chogen-ji Temple, Japan; founder of the
'Open Way Association'). Genshō's initial discovery of Zen occured
during PhD studies in Photo-chemistry/biochemistry. He eventually took Jukai (precepts) with
Hōgen Roshi in March 1998. Genshō later studied with
Daisetsu (Harada) Tangen
Roshi, (Sōtō Abbot of Bukkoku-ji Zen Temple, Obama-shi, Japan), recieving Tokudo (monk)
ordination there in January 2009. A few years later Tangen Roshi became ill, retired and eventually passed on.
Without a teacher, Genshō met Daizan Roshi, who
introduced him to Shinzan Miyamae
Roshi. Shinzan started Genshō on the koan Mū and passed him at basic level. However, still loyal
to Sōtō, Genshō decided to study with Tenshin Fletcher Roshi
in California. Later he realized that Rinzai was more appropriate for him
and the UK. He returned to study koans with Daizan Roshi. Through Daizan, Genshō began lay teaching as a
Zenways Meditation and Mindfulness teacher (2015). He then transferred to
'ZenSpace', becoming a Junior Rinzai
Zen-teacher (07/12/17) and a full Rinzai Zen-teacher (24/08/19), under the direction of
Ryūsen Jikai Roshi (Barbara Gabrys) (see above).
Genshō received the schools Transmission (14/04/21) and Inka Shomei (02/10/21) as Roshi, from Ryūsen Jikai
Roshi and continues to be mentored under her direction, following the teachings of Shinzan Miyamae
Roshi in the Hakuin-Inzan line of Rinzai Zen. He also leads
Sheffield ZenSpace and ArrivingHome.
Kaishin Zendō (Alison Churchill) has been a zen practitioner since 2013, she took Jukai precepts in
2016 and qualified as a junior Rinzai-Zen teacher on the 24/08/19. She is engaged in koan study, initially with
Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi and currently with
Ryūsen Jikai (Barbara Gabrys) Roshi (see above). She lived in
Japan for a number of years and holds an MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield's School of
East Asian Studies, where she worked for 13 years. She is now an artist and leads regular Zen Brushwork
sessions in Sheffield, (see Events), which involve meditation,
energy-raising exercises and Zen calligraphy using a large brush.