Rev. Steve Kanji Ruhl, MDiv, is an innovative Zen Buddhist minister ordained in the Zen Peacemaker Order by Roshi Bernie Glassman, and a lay Zen dharma holder and preceptor authorized by Roshi Eve Myonen Marko. He teaches Zen students to “be clear, be kind, be present” through training in koans, precepts, and shikantaza meditation.

In addition to his training in the Zen Peacemakers Order, Kanji also has trained with Watanabe Roshi at Taiyjo-ji Zen Temple in Kanegasaki, Japan; with John Daido Loori Roshi at Zen Mountain Monastery; with Roshi Dai-En Bennage at Mt. Equity Zendo; and with Toni Packer at the Springwater Center for Meditative Inquiry.

Kanji offers training in one-on-one sessions, either in person if you live within convenient traveling distance of his home in western Massachusetts, or via his Touch the Earth cyber-sangha if you live farther away and have access to Zoom. He also guest teaches with the Yale Buddhist Student Community at Yale University and at Deerfield Academy. When possible, Kanji also schedules monthly group dharma discussions online, in which people can listen to Kanji's introductory dharma talk on a designated topic and then open into a shared conversation, one that honors the rich collective wisdom of the group while helping to destabilize any tendencies of students to view the teacher as all-powerful "guru."

​Kanji offers training in Zen's ethical precepts as well.

Additionally, Reverend Kanji ordains qualified Zen Dharma Holders who have Master of Divinity degrees to serve as Zen ministers in the Touch the Earth Order of Zen Ministry. The first to ordain was Reverend Scott Seiryu Kearney.

Please contact Kanji at [email protected] to discuss standard                                                                    fees and sliding scale.

Kanji also trains students as a faculty member of the Shogaku Zen Institute.  Please click on the link below for more information:
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