Elihu Genmyo Smith

Elihu Genmyo Smith is the resident teacher of the Prairie Zen Center in Champaign, Illinois, and one of the co-founders, with Charlotte Joko Beck, of the Ordinary Mind Zen School, whose teachers include such well-known Zen authors as Diane Rizzetto, Ezra Bayda, and Elizabeth Hamilton, as well as Barry Magid. Genmyo has practiced Zen for around thirty-five years, beginning as a student of Soen Nakagawa and Eido Tai Shimano, then he trained with Maezumi Roshi, who ordained him, and then with Charlotte Joko Beck. He was her first dharma heir, and remains close to her. He teaches extensively around the Midwest/Chicago area, though he ventures beyond that as well. He's also associated with Bernie Glassman and the Zen Peacemakers. He blogs on "current events, books, and random themes" on his blog Clouds (clouds-genmyo.blogspot.com).

GUIDES