I’ve been a student of Ch’an Master Sheng-Yen since his arrival in New York in 1975. Master Sheng-Yen came to America at the advice of his master and started to spread the Dharma and teach Ch’an meditation to Americans. I was karmically blessed to be among the first students here of this great Ch’an master. After a short while at the Temple of Enlightenment in the Bronx, we were able to start the first Ch’an meditation center in Elmhurst, New York, which is still active today. Recently, Master Sheng-Yen founded the Dharma Drum Retreat Center in Pine Bush, New York, a beautiful setting for extended retreats. Please see the website for activities and publications from this great teacher, www.chan1.org.

The meditation teachings have greatly influenced my ability to focus and allow the music to come through me, especially in the spontaneous improvisational musics I am involved in. The Buddhist teachings have expanded my love for all nature through its morality and impermanance teachings, the blessings bestowed on the practitioner definitely influences the environment one is working in. My gratitude to Shifu (teacher) Master Venerable Dr. Sheng-Yen, and to the three jewels.