The esteemed socially engaged Buddhist, American Soto Zen priest, Dharma teacher and resident abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center in California, Hozan Alan Senauke, died Sunday afternoon at his home after a long period of ill health. He was 77. Hozan is survived by his wife Laurie and his children Alexander and Silvie.
A long-time ally of the International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB) and a member of the INEB Advisory Board, Hozan was a prominent Buddhist activist and a strong advocate for social change and equality, founding numerous initiatives and developing impactful Buddhist resources for social change in Asia and the United States. He was also a regular editorial contributor to BDG through his column The Bodhisattva's Embrace.
In a message shared on social media, the Berkeley Zen Center said:
It is with great sadness that we inform you that our teacher, friend and Dharma brother Hozan Kushiki Alan Senauke passed away this afternoon, December 22, 2024, at 16:15 p.m. We will ring the densho bell 108 times in the zendo.
After a preparatory ceremony, his body will rest in the zendo for a day so that members of the sangha can sit in zazen in the zendo with him, starting today at 19 p.m. It will probably end tomorrow at the end of the day (precise time to follow).
A rotation of priests and senior students will be present at the zendo. Hot water for tea and light snacks will be available in the courtyard/community hall for those who wish to be together.
For those unable to attend in person, please enter the zendo via the Zoom link on the BZC homepage.
May all beings be well. May all beings be at peace. May all beings be free from suffering.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1947, Hozan Alan Senauke was a disciple of Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi, in the Soto Zen lineage of Shunryu Suzuki since 1968.
A peace and civil rights activist since the 1960s, Hozan served as executive director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, an international, nonsectarian network of committed Buddhists engaged in nonviolent social activism and environmentalism, from 1991 to 2001. He was also a core faculty member of the Upaya Zen Center's chaplaincy training program.
In the late 1990s, Hozan was a founder of Think Sangha, a group of intellectuals affiliated with INEB and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. He was also a board member of the Nevada Desert Experience, which organized retreats, protests, and conferences against nuclear weapons testing.
Hozan founded the Clear View Project, developing Buddhist-based resources for social relief and change in Asia and the United States, in 2007, with a focus on promoting social harmony and equality in Myanmar and for members of the “untouchable” Dalit caste in India. Since 2021, Hozan has been the resident abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center, founded in 1967 by Sojun Weitsman and Shunryu Suzuki and affiliated with the San Francisco Zen Center.
As a prolific writer, Hozan is the author of The Bodhisattva's Embrace: Dispatches from the Front Lines of Engaged Buddhism, Heirs of Ambedkar: the renaissance of engaged Buddhism in Indiaand numerous other published articles and essays.
Upon hearing the news of Hozan's passing, his close associate and fellow Buddhist scholar and activist, INEB founder Ajahn Sulak Sivaraksa, said today from Bangkok: "I am very sad to hear of Alan's passing. He was one of my best friends, my kalyana-mitra. He dedicated his life to overcoming the suffering of others. His life was an example to many of us. I will miss him, but being a Buddhist, I understand. anitya; everything changes. I am convinced that Alan will pass from this world to that of Buddha Amitabha, and I am sure he will be happy there.
INEB Board Member, Founder and Chairman of the non-profit His Holy Majesty's Buddhist Foundation (HMHBF) in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Rev. Gauthama Prabhu Nagappan, who also works closely with underprivileged and vulnerable communities in India, shared:
Namo Buddhaya!
It is with deep sadness that I share the news of the passing of Hozan Alan Senauke, a compassionate teacher, tireless advocate for justice, and a staunch supporter of the Ambedkarite movement and South Indian Buddhist activism. To me, he was more than a brother: he was a bodhisattva to many of us. His unwavering commitment to equality and the Dhamma touched countless lives, leaving behind a legacy of wisdom, kindness, and transformative action.
Hozan Alan Senauke’s solidarity with marginalized communities and his deep support for Ambedkarite Buddhists strengthened our collective resolve to walk the path of liberation and justice. His work in spreading the Buddha’s teachings as a tool for social transformation will remain an enduring inspiration for generations. He was also a strong advocate for peace in Myanmar, standing firmly for justice and reconciliation.
Through his work with INEB, Alan has embodied the essence of engaged Buddhism, bridging the realms of personal liberation and collective well-being. He has stood by my side from the beginning, supporting my plans for the Sukhavati Eco-Temple and the INEB 2024 Biennial Conference.
Beyond his activism and teachings, Alan was also a gifted poet. His poetry reflected the depth of his spiritual practice, his commitment to social issues, and his boundless compassion for all beings.
At this time of departure, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and the global Buddhist community. Let us honor his memory by continuing the work that was so dear to his heart and in which he believed with such passion.
May he find peace as he continues his journey and may his spirit continue to guide and inspire us.
At Buddhadoor Global, we feel deeply honored to have known and worked with Hozan Alan Senauke. His unwavering dedication to the Buddhadharma and his legacy of compassion and transformative action as a bodhisattva of socially engaged Buddhism will continue to inspire us and countless others.
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Berkeley Zen Center
Buddhist Peace Fellowship
Clear view project
International network of committed Buddhists
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