Bodhin Kjolhede-roshi and Philip Kapleau-roshi

Philip Kapleau-roshi
Philip Kapleau started his spiritual search after his experiences as a court reporter at the Nüremberg trials after the second world war. He also worked for the International Military Tribunal in Tokyo. 1953 he returned to Japan and went through thirteen years of Zen training under two of Japans most famous Zenmasters: Harada-roshi and Yasutani-roshi. As one of the founders of Zen in America he returned to USA in 1966 and created the Rochester Zen Center. Kapleau has written several books; his groundbreaking work The Three Pillars of Zen is still in print after 34 years. In 1982 Kapleau-roshi were invited to Sweden to speak about Zen and at that time the Stockholm Zen Center was founded as an affiliate of the Rochester Zen Center. Philip Kapleau died May 6, 2004, sitting among friends and students in the garden of the Rochester Zen Center. He was 92 years old.


Bodhin Kjolhede-roshi
Rochester Zen Center was founded 1966 by Roshi philip Kapleau when he returned from Japan. The center now has many members in USA; Canada, Mexico and in Europé.

In June of 1986 Bodhin Kjolhede was appointed the official dharma successor of Kapleau-roshi. This was the culmination of sixteen years of work together as master and disciple. Bodhin-sensei was born in Michigan 1948 and recieved a bachelors degree in Psychology at the Ann Arbor University before he came to Rochester Zen Center in 1970. He was ordained 1976, and completed his koan work with Kapleau-roshi before he started teaching in 1983.

Bodhin-sensei was Stockholm Zen Centers teacher for many years but was succeded by Sensei Sante Poromaa 1999.