A Generous Gift

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Mountain Rain Zen Community has received a bequest from the estate of former sangha member, Evelyn Teichmann.

Evelyn attended regularly in Mountain Rain’s early years at our Fraser Street location. She did jukai in 2010 with Zoketsu Norman Fischer officiating and receiving the dharma name, Meishin Yōkai (Luminous Faith Embracing World), from Kate and Michael.

Evelyn was deeply thoughtful and found the dharma a support in her life. She went to law school but never worked in the field, having struggled with mental health issues since early adulthood. She moved out of Vancouver for some years, but got back in touch with Kate and Michael some years ago. She was stable and living in a group home and told them of her wish to include Mountain Rain in her will.

MRZC Council is exploring how to use Evelyn's gift in alignment with her request that it be used for "scholarships and otherwise at MRZC's discretion", and is considering adding the funds to the Endowment Fund so that it can support a sustainable scholarship offering.

A poem she wrote entitled World Kindness Concert, was included in our Spring, 2008 (paper!) newsletter.

“Celebration of care, our kind acts network,
Kindness is our alchemy, gold of the heart.
Celebration of children, one kind footstep at a time,
Kindness is our alchemy, diamond of the mind.
Celebration of international music, kind thoughts travel afar,
Kindness is our alchemy, pearl of the soul.
Celebration of humanity, each kind act unites our homes,
Kindness is our alchemy, emerald of the body temple.
Our treasury of kind acts leaves a beautiful world.
This treasury transforms the beautiful world.”
— Evelyn Teichmann

Jukai 2026

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On March 8, 2026 - after a year of monthly meetings with the teachers for discussion of the Bodhisattva precepts and of hand-stitching their rakusu (Buddha’s robe) - nine members of the Mountain Rain Zen sangha were witnessed formally receiving the precepts in a Jukai ceremony.

STANDING L to R: Susan Steudel: Seiko Shinsei (Quiet Lake / True Voice), Onsen Kerr – MRZC Priest, Mike Roth: Kangyō Hōfū (Complete Practice / Dharma Wind), Karen Shklanka: Enka Zenpō (Flame Flower / Complete Release), Lily Eskandari: Rengetsu Kōzan (Lotus Moon / Bright Mountain), Jonathan Walker: Fugan Egaku (Universal Vow / Wisdom Peak), Myoshin Kate McCandless – MRZC Guiding Teacher, Shinmon Michael Newton – MRZC Guiding Teacher, Emily Briggson: Jisen Jundō  (Compassionate Spring / Pure Way), Casey Miller: Hōrai  Busshin (Dharma Thunder / Buddha Heart), Adair Manning: Byakko Myōshin (White Fox / Shining Faith) 

SITTING L to R: Zayn Hammoud: Yōzan Yūjō  (Nourishing Heart / Vast Love-Mercy),  Mice Albano*: Taidō Jinen (Peaceful Path / Compassion Blaze), Myosen River Shannon (MRZC Priest)

*(guest from Beacon Zen Temple from Rev.Tenkū Ruff)

The root of all Buddhist practice is sila or ethical conduct. Working with the 16 Bodhisattva Precepts supports ethical conduct. Individual students of Zen may choose to deepen their relationship with the precepts and make a public statement of their intention to do this practice at a Jukai ceremony. This is a lay ordination ceremony in which one receives a Dharma name, simple robe (rakusu), and lineage paper tracing all the way back to the historic Buddha.

Deep bows of gratitude to everyone who supported the cohort’s commitment to the path of wisdom and compassion - particularly in these troubled times.

Preparing for Jukai includes the hand-stitching of a rakusu, a small, bib-like garment worn around the neck by Zen Buddhist practitioners. It is considered a small informal version of the Buddha's robe. The cohort was supported in this process by Ninen Susan, Kakuko Kaye, Myosen River, and Onsen.

“I love helping Susan teach the rakusu sewing cohort. Every year I get to witness both the blossoming of each participant’s skill and confidence, and the deep roots of connection grow within the cohort as they study the precepts and sew together. It is deeply moving to me. ”
— Onsen

A big thank you to the sangha, friends, and family for coming to witness these individuals as they formally took their bodhisattva vows.

Thanks goes to the Vancouver Buddhist Temple for once again allowing us to use their beautiful hondo for our jukai ceremony. And also, most of these photos were taken by Unmon Jacob Butula- blessings to his keen eye!