Traditional Soto Zen Service 10:30 AM

Dharma Talk: 10:30 AM

Speaker:  Guest Speaker Taizan Alford

Taizan Alford received jukai from his teacher, Rev. Sosan Flynn of Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, MN, in 2014, and received shukke tokudo, or home-leaving ordination, from her in the fall of 2016. In early 2020 he completed a six-week ango, or intensive practice period, at Hokyoji Zen Practice Community in Eitzen, MN. He spent four months at Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, NY, later that year. In 2021, Taizan was shuso, or head student, at Clouds in Water. He is currently serving at resident priest in training for at the Nebraska Zen Cebrwe in Omaha, Nebraska.

Taizan’s meditation journey began in the early 1980s. His focus as a Zen practitioner and priest-in-training is on how zazen, taking refuge, and loving-kindness can heal old wounds and help individuals and communities experience more joy and less suffering. Sober since 1982, Taizan is also a singer-songwriter, deeply grateful for his loving and supportive husband, Tom. He has taught therapeutic and restorative yoga since 1998.