Rev. Gigen Mark Hollingshead has been studying Zen for over 25 years. He began training at Middlebar Monastery in Stockton, California. Twelve years ago he moved to Santa Cruz and began practice at Ocean Gate Zen Center. In 2017 Gigen went through the Jukai ceremony to officially become Daijaku Roshi’s student, and in 2023 went through novice priest ordination (Shukke Tokodo). Gigen holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from California State University, Sacramento.

For more information about Rev. Gigen and other resources mentioned in the episode, please visit the following links:

https://oceangatezen.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@CrankyZen

https://www.youtube.com/@markhollingshead5096

We talked about:

*Finding stability, balance, and meditation at an early age in martial arts training

*Middlebar Monastery, MacDonough Roshi, and practice without pretension

*Ocean Gate Zen Center, Jukai, and the decision to ordain

*Zazen, Fudōshin or "the immovable mind," and recognizing stillness in motion

*And the importance of getting out of your own head and comfort zone and to practice with others