Rev. Ann Myosho Kyle Brown

HEAD TEACHER

Rev. Ann Myosho Kyle Brown is a Soto Zen Priest and disciple of Rev. Gengo Akiba Roshi, Japanese/Sotoshu Sokan (Bishop) for North America. She is founder and head teacher of Kumeido – The Mendocino Zen Center.

She began Buddhist practice with Akiba Roshi in 1992 at Kojinan – The Oakland Zen Center.  Her early training was at Aichi Senmon Nisodo in Nagoya, Japan with Reverend Aoyama Shundo Roshi.  Further training took place at an International Ango (training Period) at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center in the San Jacinto Mountains of Southern California with Rev. Akiba Roshi, and training monks from Eiheiji, Sojiji and Aichi Senmon Nisodo. In addition, she has practiced extensively at Genjoji, the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center with Rev. Kwong Roshi as well as other retreat centers throughout California, the US, Europe and South America.

Rev. Myosho went back to Japan in 2015 for the Zuise Ceremony at Eiheiji and Sojiji, the two main temples for Soto Zen in Japan. After zuise one becomes an Oshō, i.e. "priest" or "teacher".

In addition to her dedication to Kumeido, she works to support the development of Tenpyozan Monastery in Lake County, CA. Tenpyozan is an important international training center for western Soto Zen priests and the first of its kind outside of Japan.

Rev. Myosho is also a writer, wife and mother.

Sangha

“The altruistic act is dependent on Sangha. Compassion cannot be realized without practicing with others.” Kwong Roshi, Sonoma Mountain Zen Center

Practicing Buddhism is very different from simply studying Buddhism in books. Practice and study are like two friends, hands joined, walking together on the path. But practice is leading the way.

When people sit together they naturally become bonded. This mutual support and shared journey is a profound connection. An individual’s strong practice inspires the whole sangha. The efforts of the whole sangha support each individual’s practice. Still, whenever people come together there are differences that can create conflict. Aoyama Roshi, at Aichi Senmon Nisodo, says that, “training together is like stones in a tumbler. All the rough edges get smoothed out.” Come join us.