
Lineage
When a seed sprouts, it does so in the dark, down under the ground where it is wet. Without fail, the shoot goes up and the root goes down. It does this without any external prompting other than gravity and the warmth of the earth. The motivation is innate in the seed itself. True aspiration and all real practice comes from this same place. It is intrinsic, and in the same way that grass has the power to break up concrete and shatter rocks, it can shatter habit energy and shift the whole earth. This aspiration, or Mind that Seeks the Way - sprouting from this intrinsic place despite conditions - will shatter our false conceptions, and it is the only thing that can really change the world. ~ Kyogen in You Are Still Here
In loving memory of Kyogen Carlson, Dharma Rain Zen Center Founding Abbott
October 8, 1948 – September 18, 2014
The Dharma Cloud Lineage was founded in the late 70’s by Kyogen Carlson, former abbot of Dharma Rain Zen Center, alongside his wife, Gyokuko Carlson, both transmitted priests who trained under Jiyu Kennett Roshi in the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives at Shasta Abbey. Kyogen began his practice in response to the violent protests during the 1960’s in Berkeley, riding his bike to Mt. Shasta where he trained under his teacher for ten years before transmission. There he resolved his personal koan, the existential question of how to measure a human life given the competing and contradictory cultural ideas of the era.
Kyogen left a powerful legacy of teaching upon his sudden death in 2014 including respected and equal paths for lay and monastic students, an empowered engaged sangha, and thriving children’s program integrating family life into Zen. Kyogen possessed a kind humility and a deep understanding of the dharma tempered by a great sense of humor and curiosity about everything he encountered. He held an unwavering faith in the dharma and the transformative process of practice that remains a cornerstone of Zen West’s approach to walking the path.

You Are Still Here
Dharma Talks by Kyogen
Set to the rhythm of the seasons, You Are Still Here contains a collection of Kyogen's dharma talks that shed light on essential elements of contemporary Zen practice - the experience of zazen, the pitfalls and intimacies of the teacher/student relationship as well as the nature of sangha life and the vital role of community in practice. Order the book below or borrow a copy from our library.