Our Lineage
Robert Aitken Roshi and his wife Anne founded the Diamond Sangha in 1959 in Hawaii. This lineage now has thirty-seven teachers world-wide including Ross Bolleter Roshi in Perth; Mary Jaksch Roshi, Glenn Wallis Roshi, Arthur Wells Roshi and Sean Weaver Sensei in New Zealand.
Diamond Sangha teachers lead sitting groups and retreats in the USA, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, England and Germany.
As the lineage has roots in both the Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen, Diamond Sangha teachers offer both Koan study, and Shikantaza ('just sitting').
Diamond Sangha is a lay lineage, not a monastic lineage, with the ideal of bringing to our practice the joy and pain of everyday life: the great 'monastery without walls'.
Diamond Sangha teachers lead sitting groups and retreats in the USA, Chile, Argentina, Australia, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, England and Germany.
As the lineage has roots in both the Soto and Rinzai schools of Zen, Diamond Sangha teachers offer both Koan study, and Shikantaza ('just sitting').
Diamond Sangha is a lay lineage, not a monastic lineage, with the ideal of bringing to our practice the joy and pain of everyday life: the great 'monastery without walls'.
Robert Aitken Roshi (June 19, 1917 – August 5, 2010)
In 1959 Robert and Anne Aitken began a meditation group in Honolulu at their residence, which became known as the Koko-an zendo and the community that gathered, as the Diamond Sangha.
In 1974 Aitken was given permission to teach by Koun Yamada, receiving full Dharma transmission from him in 1985.
Robert Aitken was a social activist through much of his adult life, beginning with against nuclear testing during the 1940s. He was among the earlier proponents of deep ecology in religious America, and was outspoken in his beliefs on the equality of men and women. In 1978 Aitken helped found the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, with Anne Aitken and Nelson Foster.
In 1959 Robert and Anne Aitken began a meditation group in Honolulu at their residence, which became known as the Koko-an zendo and the community that gathered, as the Diamond Sangha.
In 1974 Aitken was given permission to teach by Koun Yamada, receiving full Dharma transmission from him in 1985.
Robert Aitken was a social activist through much of his adult life, beginning with against nuclear testing during the 1940s. He was among the earlier proponents of deep ecology in religious America, and was outspoken in his beliefs on the equality of men and women. In 1978 Aitken helped found the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, with Anne Aitken and Nelson Foster.
Ross Bolleter Roshi
Ross is a senior Diamond Sangha teacher and began coming to teach Sesshin twice yearly in NZ from 1993. He visits from his home in Perth, Australia, where he is the senior resident teacher of the Zen Group of Western Australia. Having over the years appointed three Zen Teachers in NZ, giving Dharma Transmission here twice, he has gradually relinquished the teaching role, entrusting to Mary, Glenn, Arthur and Sean the burdens and joys of teaching in NZ.
Ross is the Dharma Heir of Robert Aitken Roshi (the founder of the Diamond Sangha line) and John Tarrant Roshi.
Ross's life includes being a father to two adult children and working as a composer of contemporary music.
Ross is a senior Diamond Sangha teacher and began coming to teach Sesshin twice yearly in NZ from 1993. He visits from his home in Perth, Australia, where he is the senior resident teacher of the Zen Group of Western Australia. Having over the years appointed three Zen Teachers in NZ, giving Dharma Transmission here twice, he has gradually relinquished the teaching role, entrusting to Mary, Glenn, Arthur and Sean the burdens and joys of teaching in NZ.
Ross is the Dharma Heir of Robert Aitken Roshi (the founder of the Diamond Sangha line) and John Tarrant Roshi.
Ross's life includes being a father to two adult children and working as a composer of contemporary music.
For New Zealand teachers click here.
