WPA announcements

Announcements from WPA
June 28, 2011
Charlotte Joko Beck, died June 15, 2011 at 7:30 a.m., at age 94. She was not a member of the White Plum Asanga, but she did recieve transmission from Maezumi Roshi and several of her dharma successors are members of WPA. The following is from the Prairie Zen Center website: Charlotte Joko Beck was a renowned Zen teacher, co-founder of the Ordinary Mind Zen School and former head of the San Diego Zen Center. In the 1960s she trained under Hakuun Yasutani Roshi and Soen Nakagawa Roshi. In 1983 she became the 3rd Dharma heir of Hakuyu Maezumi Roshi of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Joko semi-retired in 2006 and moved to Prescott, Arizona. She passed away on June 15th, 2011 at the age of 94. She was the author of two books: Everyday Zen: Love and Work. 1989. Harper Row. ISBN 0-06-060734-3. Nothing Special: Living Zen. 1994. Harper Row. ISBN 0-06-251117-3. A chapter discussing her work can be found in L. Friedman's book, Meetings with Remarkable Women: Buddhist Teachers in America. 1987. Boston & London: Shambhala. Go here to read WPA President Shishin Wick's memorial to Joko.
June 17, 2011
WPA is happy to announce that 7 teachers in the Maezumi lineage were approved for membership in the White Plum Asanga. Membership was reinstated for Alfred Jitsudo Ancheta who received transmission from Hakuyu Maezumi and Bernie Glassman. The new members are Carl Genjo Bachman (transmission teacher Robert Kennedy), Gary Myogen Koan Janka (transmission teacher Egyoku Nakao), Al Genkai Kazniak (transmission teacher Joan Halifax), Julie Myoko Kirin Terestman (transmission teacher Enkyo O’Hara), Bonnie Myotai Treace (transmission teacher Daido Loori) and Peter Seishin Wohl (transmission teachers Stef and Margaret Barragoto). Please click here for pictures and more information about the new Plums.
June 2, 2011
The White Plum Asanga affirms integrity, honesty, and humility as central to the practice of our Dharma teaching. We affirm non-harming in our relations with all those whom we encounter. We collectively vow to maintain our lineage as a vital branch of the Dharma tree, and to keep it as clear as possible from harmful actions.
We also recognize that, from the very root of our lineage, we have experienced misconduct in the areas of sex and alcohol. And, there have been occasions of abuse of power, sex and money in succeeding generations. We express our sincere apology to all those who have been harmed in any way by these actions. We resolve to act affirmatively to transform our collective karma by censure, healing and restitution.
In light of the above, a delegation of WPA members met with Dennis Genpo Merzel, and together discussed the current circumstances relating to his abuse of his position of teacher and Abbot. We sought to participate with him in a process of discernment to address his issues. He has indicated that he does not want to be accountable to his peers in the White Plum Asanga, and that he will follow his own path in addressing his personal issues and their impact on the Kanzeon Sangha. Since Genpo has resigned his membership in the White Plum organization, we have no authority over him. We appeal to him to address his issues and to take responsibility for healing the harmful effects they have had on his students, successors, and Sangha.
signed by the Board of The White Plum Asanga
	Roshi Gerry Shishin Wick, President Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao, Vice-President Roshi Anne Seisen Saunders, Secretary-Treasurer Sensei Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara Sensei Michael Mugaku Zimmerman
February 2011
The White Plum Asanga Board of Directors has accepted the resignation of Genpo Merzel from White Plum Asanga membership as well as an Elder of the White Plum. This resignation is a result of his recent disclosures regarding sexual misconduct with several of his students. On behalf of the White Plum organization, I extend our support for Genpo's efforts in recovery and treatment and to the teachers and members of the Kanzeon Sangha in their efforts in healing and realigning their communities. --- Roshi Gerry Shishin Wick, President, WPA