In 1996, Lola Lee, Osho, who passed away in 1997 asked the Ven. Mitra Bishop-roshi to guide her students in their practice. Beginning Zen practice in 1974, Mitra-roshi is a Dharma heir of Ven. Philip Kapleau-roshi. Ordained as a Zen priest in 1986, she completed her formal training at the Rochester Zen Center. In 1992 she went to Okayama, Japan, where she continued to practice under the guidance of the Ven. Harada Shodo-roshi, Abbot of Sogen-ji, a Rinzai Zen temple. When Mitra-roshi returned to the United States in 1996, she was formally sanctioned to teach by Kapleau-roshi, and in that same year was asked to come to Hidden Valley Zen Center to teach. Concurrently, she established Mountain Gate, a monastic practice center in the mountains of northern New Mexico. Taking the admonition, "There's no beginning to enlightenment, no end to practice," to heart, she continues to train intensively with Harada-roshi, including spending several weeks each year at Sogen-ji.

Roshi comes to Hidden Valley Zen Center on an ongoing and regular basis to lead sesshin [extended meditation retreats of between two and seven days], give sanzen [spiritual guidance in private interview], teisho [presentation of the essentials of Zen], lead workshops and do various ceremonies. Mitra-roshi also travels to other locations to lead sesshin and all day sittings.

Email: info@hvzc.org
Phone: (760) 591-9893
Address: PO Box 1355
San Marcos, CA 92079

home | the center | the practice | the teacher | the teachings | calligraphy | publications | workshops | members | links