Sydney Zen Centre

Robert Aitken Roshi is SZC’s founding teacher, visiting Sydney for the first time in 1979 to lead sesshin. He was first introduced to Zen Buddhism while detained in a Japanese internment camp during World War 11. In l959, he and his wife Anne established the Diamond Sangha, a Zen Buddhist society in Hawai’i, where he lives in retirement. A student of Nagakawa Soen Roshi, Yasutani Hakuun Roshi and Yamada Roshi, Aitken was authorised to teach in l974. He is the author of twelve books and has been a leader in establishing Zen Buddhism in the West. He was co-founder of BPF (the Buddhist Peace Fellowship). You can learn more about Robert Aitken at www.robertaitken.net

Subhana Barzaghi, the senior resident teacher of the Sydney Zen Centre, has been practising meditation for over 20 years. She has studied in Australia and California with John Tarrant, in Japan with Yamada Koun Roshi, and in Australia and Hawaii with Robert Aitken Roshi, the founder of the Diamond Sangha. Subhana received Dharma transmission from Aitken Roshi and John Tarrant in 1996 at the Gorrick's Run Zendo.

Subhana Barzaghi is a qualified and experienced psychotherapist, a mother of two children, and a grandmother. She was a founding member of the 'Bodhi Farm' community in the Northern Rivers, where she lived for 20 years. She was also the founder of the Kuan Yin Zen Centre in Lismore. Subhana presently lives in Sydney with her partner. Subhana is a Registered Religious Marriage Celebrant, and also teaches in the Vipassana Insight Meditation tradition. She leads workshops, Zen sesshins and Vipassana retreats at a variety of centres in Australia, New Zealand, and India.

Gillian Coote, the co-ordinating teacher of the Sydney Zen Centre, met Robert Aitken Roshi in l980, attending his annual sesshin in Sydney, as well as training periods and sesshin in Hawai'i. She also studied with John Tarrant and Subhana. She received dharma transmission, a ceremony of acknowledgement as a fully authorized Zen teacher, from Subhana in June 2004 at Kodoji, Temple of the Ancient Ground. Gillian has been involved with developing sangha at Sydney Zen Centre since the early '80's, organising sesshin, editing SZC's journal, Mind Moon Circle, and helping build Kodoji at Gorricks Run, inspired by the experience at the Ring of Bone Zendo in California with Tony, her husband, and Gully, their son in l982. She has studied with Thich Nhat Hanh, attending his artists' retreat in Ojai, CA and joining his pilgrimage to Buddhist sites in India and Nepal, has trained with Joanna Macy and for fifteen years was the co-ordinator of the Sydney branch of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship.

Gillian is a social documentary filmmaker, writer, grandmother and bush regenerator.

Both SZC's resident teachers offer dokusan (interviews) and teisho (dharma talks) and conduct jukai (Precept) ceremonies. They teach at Annandale and Kodoji in sesshin (retreats). They are financially supported in this work by members of the group.

Sydney Zen Centre also provides a training-ground for Diamond Sangha teachers appointed by Subhana Barzaghi, including Paul Maloney and Maggie Gluek.

Paul Maloney was appointed an apprentice teacher in the Diamond Sangha by Subhana Bazarghi Roshi in 2002. Since that time he has been a member of the teaching team of the Sydney Zen Centre and leads a group in the Blue Mountains. He co-teaches sesshin with Subhana.

Paul began his Zen studies in the late 1950s, and started formal zazen in 1966. He went to Japan in 1968 and attended his first sesshin under the direction of Nakagawa Soen Roshi in December 1968. Returning to Australia in 1973 he, together with Leigh Davison and others, formed a sitting group which evolved into the Sydney Zen Centre sangha. He began formal koan study with Robert Aitken Roshi in 1979, and after continued with John Tarrant Roshi and Subhana Barzaghi Roshi.

Paul is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Engineering, UTS and has degrees in Asian history and the philosophy of science. He has also been a student of classical Japanese Martial Arts for over forty years. He teaches Shindo Muso Ryu Jodo and related weapon systems in Sydney. His wife, Yayoi, is a teacher of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, Chanoyu.

Maggie Gluek was appointed an apprentice teacher in the Diamond Sangha in 2003. Since that time she has been part of the collegial teaching team at the Sydney Zen Centre. She has co-taught sesshin with Subhana and Gillian Coote, offers dokusan at Annandale when the opportunity presents itself and gives dharma talks at zazenkai, including with the Canberra Zen Group.

She began Zen practise in 1983 at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Centre, while on leave in her home town. Upon returning to Australia, she found the Sydney Zen Centre and took up formal koan study with Robert Aitken Roshi. She continued her study with John Tarrant and completed it with Subhana Barzaghi. She has long experience of leadership in the sangha. Maggie has degrees in literature and psychology. Currently she works as a bush regenerator. She is married with two adult children.