Current Class - Spring 2025

Building and Sustaining a Healthy Sangha

An introduction and overview of ethical practices in organization and human resource management

10-Week Master of Divinity Program - Online course open to everyone - By donation

Tuesdays 1pm-2:30pm PST / 4pm-5:30pm EST
February 4th - April 8th, 2025

To register: email registrar@shogakuzen.org

Course Goal

Zen Centers large and small have unique opportunities to create effective, safe and nourishing environments for the practice of Zen Buddhism. Ideally, the teachers and leaders of these institutions, organizations, Sanghas and sitting groups are well versed in the dharma and can model and teach Zen forms, practices and rituals.

In the 21st century there are many other requirements: ethical, legal, fiduciary, and practical that teachers and leaders must address in order to create a safe and sustainable practice place. In the past these issues were left to paid staff, consultants, volunteers and Board committees. When those human resources are available, they can be engaged successfully. However, leadership (often a teacher) must have sufficient knowledge to encourage excellence and safeguard unethical behavior or malfeasance.

This course will provide an introduction and overview of ethical practices in organization and human resource management. It will emphasize skills in operating a center which practices and teaches the Dharma, with deep respect for individual, sangha, and organizational integrity, safety, sustainability and inclusivity.

Faculty

This course will be taught by Grace Schireson, Steve Kanji Ruhl and Steven Tierney.
Read teacher bios here.

Class DETAILS

The course will begin on February 4th and be comprised of 10 classes of 90 minutes each, running on Tuesdays from 1pm PST / 4pm EST.
Classes are offered by donation.

Suggested Reading

The Soul of Money by Lynne Twist

course outline

Week 1: Creating a safe, inclusive, welcoming, environment for Zen Practice
Week 2: Building sustainable community
Week 3: Making the Practice Center’s financial relationship transparent to the community
Week 4: Money is not evil - asking for money
Week 5: Code of ethics
Week 6: Conflict resolution, reconciliation and responses; understanding legal requirements
Week 7: Skillful communication
Week 8: Digital communications
Week 9: Not ignoring the body and physical needs
Week 10: Succession planning

how to enroll

For more information about this class, or to register for this class, email registrar@shogakuzen.org