Shasta Abbey

Shasta Abbey is a significant training monastery for Buddhist monks, located on sixteen forested acres near Mount Shasta in northern California, United States. It also serves as a practice center for lay Buddhists and interested visitors, fostering a serene environment for spiritual development. The monastery is a key institution within the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives (OBC).

History and Foundation

The abbey was established in 1970 by the Reverend Master P.T.N.H. Jiyu-Kennett, who served as its Abbess and spiritual director until her passing in 1996. Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, a British woman, founded Shasta Abbey on behalf of her master in Japan, Keido Chisan Koho Zenji. She had arrived in San Francisco in November 1969 and subsequently dedicated herself to establishing this monastic community in the United States. During her tenure, she ordained and taught numerous monks and lay individuals. In addition to Shasta Abbey, she founded Throssel Hole Buddhist Abbey in England in 1972 and established the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives to provide a unifying framework for these institutions.

The abbey's leadership transitioned following Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett's death. The second Abbot, Reverend Master Eko Little, a Dharma Heir and her long-time assistant, served until 2010. He continued to uphold his master's vision and strengthen the monastery's spiritual life. However, towards the end of his abbacy, allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced, leading to his departure from the Abbey and return to secular life.

The current Abbess is Reverend Master Meian Elbert, who was ordained by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett in 1977 and received Dharma Transmission in 1979. She had a long association with Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, serving as her chaplain for over 15 years and holding various leadership roles within the community and the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives. Rev. Master Meian Elbert was elected Abbess by the monastic community on June 17, 2010.

Practice and Training

Buddhist training at Shasta Abbey is centered on the practice of Serene Reflection Meditation (Sōtō Zen) and the strict observance of the Buddhist Precepts. The resident monastic community comprises approximately 26 vegetarian and celibate monks, both male and female. Their monastic robes are designed to reflect a synthesis of the Chinese Chan and Japanese Sōtō Zen traditions under which Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett was ordained.

A structured daily schedule guides the community through periods of seated meditation, ceremonial practice, and working meditation, integrating the mind of meditation into all daily activities. The day begins with meditation and Morning Service, followed by communal meals, individual monastic duties, group tasks for the community's benefit, personal spiritual practice, and communal ceremonies. Rest and renewal are also incorporated, including community tea times and opportunities for interaction with laity.

Lay residents and visitors participating in retreats are encouraged to follow a similar schedule, striving to embody the practice of The Middle Way in their daily lives. The Abbey emphasizes silence and serenity, inviting practitioners to wholeheartedly follow the Buddha's Teachings. This dedication is reflected in their practice of Dāna, or mutual assistance, as they have chosen not to charge fees for teachings or retreats, placing their faith in the generosity and practice of Dāna.

Publications

Shasta Abbey Press is actively involved in publishing Buddhist literature. Their output includes the writings of their founder, Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett, as well as translations of numerous seminal Buddhist texts. Notable among these are the master works of Sōtō Zen patriarchs such as Dogen Zenji's Shōbōgenzō and Keizan Jokin Zenji's Denkoroku. Many of these publications are made freely available through the Shasta Abbey website.

The translations produced by Shasta Abbey are particularly valued for practitioners in the West. They are undertaken from the perspective of meditation and by practicing Buddhist monks, aiming to offer interpretations that are more accessible and less esoteric than traditional scholastic translations. This approach facilitates a deeper understanding and practice of Buddhism within a Western context.