About
Taigen Dan Leighton is a Soto Zen priest and Dharma successor in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. Taigen first studied Buddhist art and culture in Japan in 1970, and began formal everyday zazen and Soto practice in 1975 at the New York Zen Center with Kando Nakajima Roshi. This led to his returning to graduate in East Asian Studies, and to study Japanese language at Columbia College. Through the 70s Taigen was an award-winning documentary film editor in New York and San Francisco, including work for NBC News and Bill Moyers Journal. While editing TV news, it was necessary for Taigen to learn about the one who is not busy.
Taigen left his filmmaking career in 1979 to work full time for the San Francisco Zen Center at the Tassajara Bakery and later Greens Restaurant. He was ordained in 1986 by Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi, receiving the Dharma name Taigen Shizan (Ultimate Source Polishing Mountains). Taigen practiced and resided for years at San Francisco Zen Center, Tassajara monastery, and Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. Taigen was an elected member of the Board of San Francisco Zen Center, which he Chaired for three years. He also practiced for two years in Kyoto, Japan, 1990-92, translating Dogen with Rev. Shohaku Okumura, and practicing with several Japanese Soto Zen teachers, including one monastic practice period.
Taigen has been active in many interfaith dialogue programs, including co-leading Buddhist-Christian dialogues, and he also has studied Native American spiritual practice.
Taigen has long been active in various Engaged Buddhist programs for social justice, peace, and environmental activism. His activism goes back to his teens when he worked against the Vietnam War, including as a student at Columbia College in New York where he participated in the 1968 week-long building occupation and was arrested with 700 others. Since then he has continued speaking for peace and for climate justice.
Taigen founded the Mountain Source Sangha meditation groups in Bolinas in 1994, then added branches in San Rafael and San Francisco. He received Dharma Transmission in 2000 from Tenshin Reb Anderson. Taigen is an authorized teacher (Kyoshi) in the Japanese Soto school. Taigen has written many books of commentaries and translations of Soto Zen and bodhisattva teachings. See Writings link for details. Taigen is now a member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association of American Soto Zen teachers, and the Association of Soto Zen Buddhists, teachers recognized by the Japanese Soto school. Taigen has taught academically in a number of universities, and has a Ph.D. from Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, where he has taught at the Institute of Buddhist Studies since 1994, teaching online since 2007.
At the beginning of 2007 Taigen relocated to Chicago, and was Guiding Dharma Teacher for Ancient Dragon Zen Gate until mid-2024, now ADZG Dharma Teacher emeritus. Taigen has worked to develop accessible practice and training programs in the Chicago area. He performed lay ordination for a few dozen practitioners, and has performed seven priest ordinations. Taigen developed Ancient Dragon practice leaders to guide Ancient Dragon Zen Gate into the next generation. He continues working with individual practitioners and offering online teachings at various sanghas. Taigen lives with his wife, two cats, and a dog a bit north of Chicago.
Taigen's Ongoing Teachings
Click here to see a list of Taigen's upcoming seminars.
Academic Teaching
Taigen teaches online at the Institue of Buddhist Studies at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, from where he has a Ph.D., and where he has taught since 1994. He has also taught in the Bay Area at Saint Mary’s College, the California Institute of Integral Studies, University of San Francisco, and University of Creation Spirituality; in Japan at Kansai and Otani Universities; and in Chicago at Meadville Lombard Theological Seminary, and for four years at Loyola University Chicago. His classes have ranged from graduate seminars on sophisticated Zen and Buddhist topics to undergraduate classes in Comparative Religion and Introduction to Japanese Religion.
Dharma Heirs
REV. NYOZAN ERIC SHUTT
Rev. Nyozan Eric Shutt is an authorized Dharma Teacher and has served in various temple positions at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate. For many years he guided meditation at our affiliated weekly group at the University of Chicago’s Rockefeller Chapel in Hyde Park, He is also on our Ethics and Reconciliation Council, previously served as chair of our board, and is available for Zen practice discussion. He was introduced to Tibetan practice at Naropa Institute in 1974 but by the mid-1980s felt more of an affinity to Zen. He has now had many years of practice with both Korean and Japanese Zen teachers. Nyozan attended a Tassajara practice period in the spring of 2009 and was ordained as a priest by Taigen in 2011. In 2014 he served as head monk (shuso) for our spring practice period. And in 2019 Nyozan again attended ango at Tassajara, and later that year received dharma transmission from Taigen. Nyozan taught zazen at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in Chicago for five years and has helped construct community gardens on the South Side.
REV. EISHIN NANCY EASTON
Rev. Eishin Nancy Easton is an authorized Dharma Teacher and currently Tanto, or Practice Teacher at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate, and also has served on the ADZG Board. She was formerly ADZG Director for many years and Tenzo or head of the kitchen at ADZG. She was priest ordained by Taigen in 2011, and has attended Green Gulch January intensive practice. In 2018 she served as head monk (shuso) for our spring practice period. And in 2019, Eishin received dharma transmission from Taigen. She is available for Zen practice discussion. Eishin is a clinical psychologist who has practiced for over 20 years in both college/university and private practice settings. She lives with her husband on the north side of Chicago and has two young adult step-daughters. Eishin is also an urban bicycle advocate, and can be found biking to work, sangha, or other daily life activities.
Douglas Floyd
Douglas Floyd is a Lay Entrusted Dharma teacher, the former Temple Director and President of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate, and a former President and Chair of the board of directors. He is currently Tanto or Practice Teacher at ADZG. He received Lay Entrustment from Taigen Dan Leighton in 2021. He also has served as ADZG’s Ino, or meditation hall supervisor, and was lay ordained by Taigen in 2011. He has practiced at Ancient Dragon since 2007, served as head monk (shuso) for the 2016 spring practice period, and is available for Zen practice discussion. Introduced to Buddhist practice in the 70s at Tail of the Tiger, a Tibetan center in Vermont, Douglas also has practiced Zen at Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas and at the Missouri Zen Center in St. Louis. He is married, with two adult sons. Before his retirement, Douglas worked as an attorney specializing in information technology transactions, data licensing, and privacy.