Clerics

Clerics have demonstrated proficiency in their practice skills and have completed all novice formal education requirements. Clerics continue their education in OPB with a focus on gaining practical experience in socially engaged monasticism and examining the major issues pertaining to Pragmatic Buddhism in our contemporary global society.

The Center for Pragmatic Buddhism's socially engaged monasticism requires that one maintain a "normal" American lives--with families and occupations--while dedicating themselves to a continuous practice of personal and social betterment.

In addition clerics hold the position of "otomo", where they attend to the immediate needs of the Abbot as a way to extend and cultivate selflessness.

Wayne Hughes deshi (Guest Prefect, OPB; Associate Director Buddhist Studies, CPB)

Growing up a military brat, Wayne moved all over the world and was exposed to diverse peoples and cultures. Formative years continued when he joined the military in the early seventies. More life experiences were piled on, good and bad. Life continues to offer up a bounty of experiences and memories. His job experiences are just as varied as his life. At present he is the Religion and Spirituality Topic Administrator for an online information network where his goal is to foster an atmosphere of religious tolerance.

He read about the many faces of Buddhism, meditated on his own, and searched until he found the Pragmatic Buddhist sangha in St. Louis. Wayne felt the call to become a formal student at his first meeting.

Novice Monks

Novice Monks have expressed a deferential desire to live Pragmatic Buddhism in their everyday lives, and have demonstrated an ability to do so. The Center for Pragmatic Buddhism's socially engaged monasticism requires that one maintain a "normal" American lives--with families and occupations--while dedicating themselves to a continuous practice of personal and social betterment. The novice monk spends most of his or her time refining the fundamental skills of meditation practice, while studying the basics of Pragmatic Buddhist thought.

David Astor (Prior, OPB)

David has been studying Buddhism for 15 years and has maintained a dedicated practice for almost 8 of those years. His study has been mostly self-mediated with time spent at several Meditation Centers and Zen Monasteries in the US. He has also traveled in China visiting monasteries and temples to get a better understanding of how Chan Buddhism is practiced. Like most persons in the State, he grew up in a Christian tradition, and specifically Anglican and Roman. David's approach to Buddhist practice was "pragmatic" even before he found CPB. Being a part of a Sangha that is dedicated to Pragmatic Buddhism and a socially engaged view has strengthened his study efforts and solidified his path. In June of 2008 David started a meditation center in Maryland that has attracted both Buddhist and Christian practitioners. This has also grown his practice and view of how important interfaith dialog can be for strengthening one's self-development.

David received a BS degree from Illinois University and has worked on graduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago. He worked for many years in Chicago as a software engineer. Now he lives in Annapolis, Maryland and spends time building boats and working on his Buddhist practice. David spent over 10 years living on a sail boat traveling throughout the east coast, in the warm Southern waters, as well as the Great Lakes. This experience developed his character for deliberate living, dependence on ingenuity, asking for and enjoying the support of others, as well as learning the importance of how we and the environment are interconnected and dependent on each other for a healthy existence.

Margo DuVal

Margo has been interested in Buddhism for most of her life. She had the opportunity to spend many Thursday evenings with Ryugen Fisher (Ven. Shi Shen Long) and Jim Eubanks (Shi Yong Xiang), and her appreciation for the Buddhist approach grew during this time. After many years of contemplating the formal path, she knew CPB's vision of an uniquely "American" approach to Buddhism was right for her. She values the path of liberation from suffering as taught by the historical Buddha, Siddhartha Gautama, and now seeks to offer Buddhist perspective and wisdom to others.

 

 

Meaghan Godwin (Provost, OPB)

Meaghan has a BA in philosophy, an MA in theology and has been accepted to the PhD Program in Human Development at Marywood University and will be matriculating this fall. She has been seriously looking into, studying and then practicing Buddhism since 2005, and more intensely since 2007 when she experienced several major life challenges. Meaghan is interested in Buddhism from a holistic point of view, and she is particularly intrigued by the similarities between the pragmatism of William James and the philosophy of the historical Buddha. It is this blend of pragmatism with Buddhism that makes the CPB a very comfortable place for Meaghan.

Meaghan has hopes to make contributions to the efforts of CPB and OPB, to help energize an American Buddhist movement. CBP and OBP have honor in the character of their community as well as their pursuits. There is much work ahead and she is humbled to be taking part.

Meaghan has been married since 1997 and is the mother of two wonderful boys.

Paul Trotti (Sacristan, OPB)

Paul first became interested in Zen Buddhism when he was introduced to it at the age of 13 at a Karate class. His instructor, Sam Ramey a 6th Dan in the Shi-To-Ruy style, was meditating before classes, and soon thereafter, Paul was meditating with his teacher a half hour early, four nights a weeks. He taught him the foundations of meditation. After graduating from high school and earning a 2nd Dan, Paul moved away, and as life takes one to different places, he found himself drifting away from the practices he was taught. Now, he has found an interest again, and this time he seeks the holistic approach: Shaolin Gongfu for the moving mediation, and Zen/Chan for the sitting mediation. Paul has been working as a nurse for the past 13 years graduating from a community college in North Carolina. While in NC, he met his partner of 17 years. He currently resides in Fargo ND/ Moorhead MN area, and continues to work as a nurse, hoping to find a viable path with the Order of Pragmatic Buddhists.

 

William Perkins

Lorre Powell (OPB)

Lorre has a BFA in Advertising Art Direction from the School of Visual Arts in NYC. She has 15+ years of experience developing marketing communication vehicles for various companies. Lorre became interested in alternative healing in 1998. She started studying Tai Chi as a cognitive and physical rehabilitation for injuries suffered in a car accident and found the bodymind connection to be very beneficial. Lorre has studied various paths including American Indian traditions and Paganism and believes Pragmatic Buddhism is a good fit for her path. She has an affinity for Japanese and Chinese cultures and likes the idea of adapting Buddhism to western culture. Lorre plans to utilize the education offered at OPB to empower others through meditation to create a healthier self and community.

 

Formal students

Formal Students are dedicated to daily practice and study at the Center for Pragmatic Buddhism, including weekly communication with the monastics and other formal students, and one-on-one weekly communication with CPB's Monastic Director. This is a unique path at CPB that allows persons to practice and study in a formal manner, so that they can demonstrate that the monastic path is right for them. Formal students participate in daily practice, monastic discussions on topics relating to Pragmatic Buddhism, and learn more about what it means to be a socially engaged Buddhist practitioner in the United States. After a minimum of six (6) months as a formal student, one may request to be considered.

Abimael Rodriquez

Abimael lives in NYS and is the father of two lovely kids. He works for the state education department as a Security Officer assigned to the Cultural Education Center which is also the state museum. Abimael has a deep affinity for nature. He enjoys walks, staring at the sky, the moon, the stars, the sun, flowers, and trees and has a respect for animals.

Abimael grew up in a strict Christian environment. He was taught to believe in god and religious spirituality but as he grew older he began questioning beliefs about the existence of this so called god. So it is no surprise that his journey as a Pragmatic Buddhist began with a Google search for “Can one realize naturalistic spirituality?” (The kind of spirituality not attached to the supernatural) The answer pointed him to Naturalistic.org. There he discovered the book “Encountering Naturalism”, written by Tom Clark, which talks briefly about the Buddha. Abimael found this very interesting because Buddhism does not revolve around god/s. He also found a reference for the website for The Center for Pragmatic Buddhism (CPB), www.pragmaticbuddhism.org.

Abimael needed a method to manage his anger and behavior and found that his experience with other methods could not come close to the success he has found with the teaching and practice of Pragmatic Buddhism. Abimael finds Pragmatic Buddhism allows him to be mindful of thoughts, emotions, feelings, behavior and human experience at a deep level.

Jeri Rosenberger

 

 

Alexander Martin