Mel Weitsman

Hakuryu Sojun Mel Weitsman (July 20, 1929 – January 7, 2021), born Mel Weitsman, was an American Buddhist who was the founder, abbot and guiding teacher of Berkeley Zen Center located in Berkeley, California. Weitsman was a Sōtō Zen roshi practicing in the lineage of Shunryū Suzuki, having received Dharma transmission in 1984 from Suzuki's son Hoitsu. He was also a co-abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, where he served from 1988 to 1997. Weitsman was also editor of the book Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai, based on talks given by Suzuki on the Sandokai.

Biography Mel Weitsman was born in southern California in 1929, to Edward Weitsman and Leah Rosenberg Weitsman. After exploring Jewish spirituality in his youth, he started practicing at the San Francisco Zen Center under Shunryū Suzuki in 1964. He co-founded the Berkeley Zen Center with his teacher in 1967. Suzuki ordained Weitsman as a priest in 1969, and arranged for him to be Shuso (Head Monk) in 1970 under Tatsugami Roshi at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. His other teachers included Dainin Katagiri Roshi, Kōbun Chino Roshi, Ryogen Yoshimura and Kazuaki Tanahashi, with whom he has often worked on translations of Zen texts.

In 1984, Weitsman received Dharma transmission from Suzuki Roshi's son and Dharma Heir, Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi, Abbot of Rinso-In Temple in Yaizu, Japan. In 1985, he became Abbot of Berkeley Zen Center. From 1988 to 1997, he co-led San Francisco Zen Center with Tenshin Reb Anderson (its previous abbot, Zentatsu Richard Baker, stood accused of financial and sexual misconduct). In 1995, Weitsman co-founded the American Zen Teachers Association (AZTA) with senior American Dharma teachers Tetsugen Bernard Glassman, Dennis Genpo Merzel and Keido Les Kaye.

Weitsman entrusted the Dharma to over twenty individuals, including Zenkei Blanche Hartman (1988) and Zoketsu Norman Fischer (1988).

Lineage Josho Pat Phelan (?—present) Mary Mocine (?—present) Myoan Grace Schireson (born 1946) Jane Myokaku Schneider (?—present) Myosho Baika Andrea Pratt (born 1960) Shinshu Roberts (?—present) Daijaku Judith Kinst (?—present) Soshin Teah Strozer (?—present) Chikudo Lew Richmond (12/30/2002–present) Höshō Peter Coyote (1/23/2016-present) Kyosaku Richard Laubly (9/17/2023-present) Haku-un David Brazier (4/30/2025-present) 2002 Peter Yozen Schneider (1937 - 2025) Shosan Victoria Austin (?—present) Dairyu Michael Wenger (born 1947) Darlene Su Rei Cohen (☸ 1942—2011) Susan Ji-On Postal (?—present) Myozan Dennis Keegan (?—present) Horyu Ryotan Cynthia Kear (?—present) Sarita Tamayo-Moraga (?—present) Mark Lancaster (?—present) Hozan Alan Senauke (born 1947) Maylie Scott (☸ 1935—2001) Fran Tribe (☸) Gil Fronsdal (born 1954) Edward Espe Brown (born 1945) Ryushin Paul Haller (born 1947) Myogen Steve Stucky (?—2014) Steve Weintraub (?—present) Zoketsu Norman Fischer (born 1946) Do-An Robert Thomas (?—present) Shokan Jordan Thorn (?—present) Ingen Breen (?—present) Bruce Fortin (?—present) Arlene Lueck (?—present) Daigan Lueck (☸ ?—2015) Shinko Rick Slone (?—present) Gloria Ann Lee (?—present) Myphon Hunt (?—present) retired Gyokujun Teishin Layla Smith (born 1946) Zenkei Blanche Hartman (?—present) Kosho McCall (born 1946) Seirin Barbara Kohn (?—present) retired Gengetsu Jana Drakka (born 1952) John Daniel King (☸ 1935—2001) Ryumon Hilda Guitierrez Baldoquin (?—present)