Reverend Daito Zenei Eric Thompson, Spiritual Director

Reverend Thompson has practiced and studied Buddhism since 1971 at various monasteries and temples, under the spiritual guidance of certified and authentic masters, both in America and Asia, including twice meeting His Holiness the Dalai Lama of Tibet. He has lectured extensively, and taught Zen Buddhism peripatetically, at various civic, community and religious groups, and has also lectured at colleges and universities in the United States and abroad.

Reverend Thompson studied at the famous Gold Mountain Monastery (Dharma Realm Buddhist University) in San Francisco, California under the spiritual guidance of the late Venerable Ch'an Master Hsuan Hua. He later visited and studied at the Seoul National Buddhist University (Dong guk Tae Hak) and visited the world famous Hae In Sa monastery in the southern mountains outside of Kwan-Ju Korea.

Reverend Thompson was ordained into the Soto Zen Mission North America as a Zen Priest in 1978 and received the special Ke Chi Myaku Transmission and permission to teach others by the late Reverend Dr. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi, Archbishop of Soto Zen Mission, North America. Please visit the late Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi dedication website at www.Mokurai.org to learn more.

Reverend Thompson has been interviewed by numerous newspapers in the USA. New Age Journal is only one of several publications who have interviewed and published articles by Reverend Thompson.

Reverend Thompson has been involved with many social, community and interfaith organizations. He has been a religious advisor to the Boy Scouts of America Buddhist Sangha Awards program; has been formerly or is currently a member of the following organizaitons: the Evergreen Hospital Pastoral Care Advisory Committee; advisory to the state prison chaplaincy program; advisory to the US Armed Forces Buddhist chaplaincy; the World Buddhist Organization; the American Buddhist Congress; the Buddhist Peace Fellowship; the Northwest Dharma association; and others. He has worked extensively with other Asian Buddhist communities as a liaison within the non-Buddhist Western Culture and Society.

Reverend Thompson is currently the Spiritual Director of the Aspen Gold Dharma Center in Sarasota, Florida USA, a Soto Zen Buddhist organization created to support the dissemination and growth of Buddhist Teachings within our communities and to help empower its members through direct participation in its many programs. To learn more please visit us online at www.AspenGold.org.

The late Dr. Reverend Soyu Matsuoka-roshi, Archbishop of Soto Zen Mission North America.

Dharma Master Matsuoka-roshi, a Gondaikyshi (Bishop) of the Soto Zen school, served as superintendent and abbot of the Long Beach Zen Buddhist Temple and Zen Center. The temple was headquarters to Zen centers in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, and Everett, Washington.

Matsuoka-roshi was born in Japan into a family that has a history of Zen Priests dating back six hundred years. Matsuoka-roshi attended Komazawa University in Tokyo, where he graduated with a bachelor's degree.

He was sent to America to serve as a founder of temples both in Los Angeles and San Francisco. He furthered his extensive graduate work at Columbia University with Dr. D.T. Suzuki. He finally established the temple at Long Beach, CA in 1971 where he resided until passing in 1998.

Matsuoka-roshi was a great dynamic influence in both America and Japan, lecturing and providing true Zen training to all people. He is registered in the book of National Treasures of Japan. Please visit www.mokurai.org website as it is a tribute and dedication to O-sensei.

Zen Master Shih Shen Lung, 1947-2006

Zen Master "Ryugen" Shih Shen Lung first gave to Reverend Thompson the Buddhist Triple Gems- Ti Sarana- while Reverend Thompson was at the time an Aikido student of Zen Master Lung.  Reverend Thompson proclaimed, "Master Ryugen was the most authentic American born Zen Master I have met. His vast understanding of Buddhism in general, and Zen in particular was most precious. He was, in fact, the Bodhidharma of American Zen."

On October 28th, 2006, Master Lung, founder of the Dragon Flower Ch'an  temple, passed away. An American practicing Buddhist Monk since 1972, Venerable Lung was ordained in the Soto Zen tradition by the late Bishop Rev. Soyu Matsuoka-roshi and subsequently received Dharma Transmission from the Ch'an Master Shih Mo Hwa of the Lin Chi Sect in 1980. Venerable Shen Lung's guidance, understanding, and, humor have helped countless numbers of beings to grow and thrive in the Dharma.

Zen Master Lung and Daito Zenei Thompson.

With nine bows of unending gratitude, we honor the monk Shih Wu Ming whose Dharma name is Lung Yen!

The late Zen Master Reverend Kongo Langlois, Roshi, spiritual director Chicago Zen Temple and dharma-heir to the late Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka, roshi.

Reverend Daito Zenei Thompson with Zen Monks of the Quan Am Ch'an Temple officiating Bodhi-day Celebration.