Jake Jiyu Gage, Sensei

 

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.