​Guiding Teacher Ben Connelly

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​Ben Connelly (he or they) began Zen practice at MZMC in 2001, was ordained in 2009, and received dharma transmission in 2015. He has taught mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups. He works with multifaith groups focused on social and ecological justice, and has served as president of Soto Zen Buddhist Association and chairperson of Minnesota Multifaith Network. 
Ben travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar magazines, and is author for Wisdom Publications of Inside the Grass Hut, Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara, Mindfulness and Intimacy, Vasubandhu's "Three Natures", and Inside the Flower Garland Sutra. Ben lives with his spouse of many years with whom he enjoys a blended family with five adult children.
Read about Ben's publications.

Transmitted Priests, Emeritus Teachers, Priests-in-Training and Lay Teachers

Priests at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center make a lifelong commitment to teaching and exemplifying the Dharma. The responsibilities of priests are many and varied, and include much service to the community. They may teach classes, lead practice groups, lead meditation retreats, and give dharma talks. They may conduct rituals, conduct practice meetings, and offer pastoral care. They are expected to hold an office at MZMC, such as ino (practice leader), tenzo (cook), or work leader, and to have a consistent presence within the community. Some of them lead or help to facilitate practice groups in other locations as well. Priests maintain a regular and disciplined zazen practice, which includes both daily practice and retreats. Priests tend to be very busy people, and although they often find it challenging to balance family, work, and training activities, they know that this balancing is the very heart of their practice. They are committed to the Bodhisattva ideal, and feel profound gratitude for the opportunity to serve at MZMC and to be a part of this practice community.

Priest training at MZMC follows the model Guidelines for Training Soto Zen Priests in the West, which was developed by Tim Burkett and others under the auspices of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association (SZBA). Priests-in-training are expected to become knowledgeable as to the history and teachings of Buddhism through study, classes, and, most importantly, working directly with their teacher. Training focuses on developing priestcraft, exemplary personal conduct, self-understanding, and academic study.

MZMC has designated a group of zen practitioners as lay teachers. These are long-term Zen Center members who have been recognized as qualified to guide others in their practice due to their years of practice, spiritual depth, and devotion to our sangha. MZMC does not offer a program for lay teacher training and currently does not plan to designate more lay teachers.