Jake Jiyu Gage, Sensei has been a student of Zen Buddhism for twenty-three years. He began his studies in 1985 with Taizan Maezumi, Roshi and received Dharma Transmission from Nicolee Jikyo McMahon, Roshi in 2003. Prior to his Zen studies Jiyu Sensei practiced and taught Transcendental Meditation for twelve years.

Jiyu’s interest in meditation began while a student at the University of California at Berkeley. Following his graduation from Berkeley Jiyu served in the Peace Corps in Saipan. He then returned to the United States to pursue a career in the public school system, co-founding the first charter school in Oceanside, California. He also worked as a financial journalist and editor of a weekly financial newspaper.

In addition to his Zen teacher responsibilities Jiyu also is a visual artist with works on display in many homes and other venues throughout the United States.

Jiyu Sensei co-founded the Three Treasures Zen Community with Jikyo Roshi and established the Vista Zen Center after receiving Dharma Transmission from Jikyo Roshi.

Both Jiyu Sensei and Jikyo Roshi champion the Home Temple concept using their own homes as temples to support students’ integration of their Zen practice with the other activities of their busy lives.

At the Vista Zen Center we follow two approaches to the study and practice of Zen. The goal for both approaches is to serve the students in integrating the way of Zen into all aspects of their lives.

One approach is called “Zendo Practice” which follows very closely the teaching Jiyu Sensei practiced under Taizan Maezumi Roshi and Nicolee Jikyo Roshi.

Sitting in zazen, working with the teacher, and working with the precepts within a community setting are the salient aspects of the “Zendo Practice”.

The second approach, “Genjo Practice” is concerned with a student’s engagements outside the traditional Zen setting. The students everyday lives become the focus of their Zen practice.

To facilitate “Genjo Practice” Jiyu Sensei encourages students to work with him focusing on a specific aspect of their lives. Often this will be something they love to do and will probably continue to do no matter what else is going on in their lives. For some students, this might be the time spent in working in a creative domain such as painting, poetry, or music. Or it might be home-schooling one’s children, taking care of the garden, or the livelihood that puts food on the table and a roof over their heads.

Born on February 24, 1931, Maezumi Roshi was ordained as a Soto Zen monk at the age of eleven. He received degrees in Oriental Literature and Philosophy from Komazawa University and studied at Sojiji, one of the two main Soto monasteries in Japan. He received Dharma transmission from Hakujun Kuroda, Roshi, in 1955. He also received approval as a teacher (Inka ) from both Koryu Osaka, Roshi, and Hakuun Yasutani, Roshi, thus becoming a Dharma successor in three Zen lineages.

In 1956, Maezumi Roshi came to Los Angeles as a priest at Zenshuji Temple, the Soto Headquarters of the United States. He devoted his life to laying a firm foundation for the growth of Zen Buddhism in the West. In 1967, he established the Los Angeles Zendo which became the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Its honorary founder is Baian Hakujun Daiosho, who headed the Soto Sect Supreme Court and was one of the leading figures of Japanese Soto Zen.

Roshi originated the ”Practice of Immediacy” © which integrates the arts — music, writing, poetry, and movement with Zen practice. She is married, and has two grown children, a stepson, and four grandchildren. She continues to be a student of skillful means to better assist those she works with in Zen and therapy.

The lineage of Zen teachers begins with Mahakasyapa, the first successor of Buddha and continues to the present time with Jiyu Sensei at the Vista Zen Center. Jiyu Sensei studied with a Japanese teacher, Taizan Maezumi Roshi, who received transmission from both the Soto and Rinzai lineages in Japan. Jiyu Sensei begain his studies with Maezumi Roshi in 1985 and continued working with him until his passing in 1995. At that time Jiyu Sensei became a student of Nicolee Jikyo McMahon Roshi. Jikyo Roshi had already finished her studies with Maezumi Roshi and had received Dharma Transmission from him. At this point Jikyo Roshi was recognized as a fully qualified teacher with the right to have students of her own.

Jiyu Sensei took Tokudo and was ordained as a Zen Priest as part of his studies with Jikyo Roshi. He completed his studies with her to become a teacher (Sensei) and full priest in 2003 when he went through the Denbo and Denkai ceremonies.

Maezumi Roshi has twelve Dharma Successors who live and teach throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico. Jikyo Roshi currently has four Dharma successors who live in New Jersey, Illinois, and California.Those who have received transmission from Maezumi Roshi and his successors are known collectively as the White Plum Asanga.