During practice period, the shuso or "head monk" is a long-time practitioner whose role is to support the sangha by offering a weekly dharma seminar, giving several talks, meeting for tea with participants, and cleaning washrooms, a traditional practice of humility.

This year, we are happy to welcome Myōsen River Shannon as shuso. She will be assisted by her benji (attendant), Kyōkō Angela Kayira.

You may sign up for tea with our shuso individually or with a group of 2 or 3. If meeting as a group, please designate one person in the group to arrange the booking and indicate on the intake form the names and email addresses of those who will also be joining.

Click HERE to sign up for in-person tea at Bright Stream.

Click HERE to sign up for virtual tea over Zoom.

Each time slot has three possible sign up spots, yet folks are welcome to reach out to River directly at river.shannon@mountainrainzen.org if they would like to arrange a time that isn't on the calendar, or if they have any special needs or concerns.

Myōsen River grew up in so called Calgary, on Treaty 7 territory at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow rivers. She started her Zen practice with Calgary Soto Zen in 2014. She received jukai on March 11, 2018 with Mountain Rain, and was ordained as a Zen priest on October 15, 2023. She has practiced in residence at Beginner's Mind Temple in San Francisco and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in the Ventana Wilderness. River has spent her career working as a public interest lawyer, first with survivors of intimate partner violence, and now with queer and trans British Columbians. In her time off the cushion, she enjoys riding her bike and preparing inventive vegan meals for her partner, Jessica.