AZC's Teacher and Practice Leaders
Zen is not about anything. It is the practice of being present right here, right now. It is learning to meet everything that arises with an open mind and a forgiving heart. To do this, a serious student can benefit from the experienced guidance, encouragement, and presence of the teacher. Our teacher, Kosho McCall, is available to meet with students to discuss their practice life.
Kosho McCall, Teacher and Head Priest
Kosho McCall is a Soto Zen Buddhist Priest and Teacher in the lineage of Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki. He was born in Indiana in 1948 and grew up in Maine. He ordained as an Episcopal priest in 1976 and in 1988 went to study at the San Francisco Zen Center for the next 20 years. He ordained as a Zen priest in 1997. For twelve years he lived and trained at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, becoming its Head of Monastic Practice in 2004. He received Dharma Transmission (permission to teach) from his teacher, Zenkei Hartman Roshi. In 2009, Kosho accepted the Austin Zen Center"s invitation to become their Zen teacher. Kosho may be contacted by calling 512-452-5777.
Practice Leadership at AZC
The role of a Practice Leader is to be available to help you with issues associated with your Zen practice. The qualifications for being a Practice Leader at AZC are having practiced Zen for many years, having been Shuso (Head Student) for a Practice Period, and a close relationship with the Teacher.
Pat Yingst
Pat Yingst began practicing Zen meditation in 1988 and has been a member of Austin Zen Center since its inception. She has seven years experience teaching meditation in prisons and is active in the Austin intra-Buddhist prison volunteer organization, Inside Meditation. For two years, she served as office manager/bookkeeper for the center in 2005-2006. She was co-editor of AZC's journal, Just This, for its first five years. Pat is currently a member of the AZC Board of Directors. Pat can be contacted at PattyYingst@austin.rr.com
Colin Gipson
Colin Gipson was born in Austin in 1964 and was raised in central Texas. After graduating high school, Colin served 3 years in the Marine Corps, and worked a variety of jobs afterward, that led him to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he completed a BA in English. In 1999, Colin returned to Texas and began practicing at AZC in spring 2000. In Sept 2001 he received the precepts from Seirin Barbara Kohn, and was ordained in April 2003. Colin went to California in the fall of 2003 and spent a total of five years at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, and a year and a half at Beginner's Mind Temple in San Francisco. Colin returned to Texas in June of this year to serve on the staff at AZC and practice with his teacher, Kosho. Colin can be contacted at colin@austinzencenter.org
Interested in either starting or deepening your Zen practice in a residential setting with others? Our Guest Practice program is a short term opportunity that includes meditation, study, work practice and discussions about Zen Buddhism.
The editorial staff of 