Abbot of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center
For over forty years, Rev. Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston-Roshi has combined Zen practice with family life, and a career in academia and the professional world of industrial design and research. He met his teacher, Rev. Dr. Soyu Matsuoka-Roshi, in Chicago, Illinois, after attending the Institute of Design at the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he received the Bachelor of Science degree. In 1964 and an M.S. in 1970. From 1966 to 1970 he taught art and design at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
His
involvement with Zen began in 1966 when he met Matsuoka-Roshi, founder and
head teacher of the Chicago Zen Buddhist Temple. After two years of training
under Matsuoka–Roshi's supervision and at his suggestion, he underwent
a combined initiation and discipleship ceremony, and was given the dharma name
Taiun, meaning "Great Cloud". Taiun was registered with the Sotoshu
in Japan July 13, 1969 (Priesthood Register No. 164, Soto Zen Headquarters,
Tokyo, Japan) and ordained as a Zen Priest March 22, 1970. He continued his
duties at the Chicago Zen Center until 1970, when he moved to Atlanta, Georgia,
at the same time Matsuoka-roshi moved to Long Beach, California, to establish
a temple there.
In the early 1970's Rev. Elliston-Roshi began offering Zen meditation and teaching, and in 1977 he founded the Atlanta Soto Zen Center (ASZC). Matsuoka-Roshi presented Elliston with the title of Roshi, and his second dharma name, Zenkai, meaning "Whole World of Zen," in a special ceremony at ASZC on September 20, 1983.
Roshi
continues to offer his services as the Abbot of the ASZC. He encourages the
numerous members to lead a Zen life, and to maintain a harmonious balance with
the demands of family and livelihood. As superintendent, he oversees the training
of disciples and priests, as well as ministering to the needs of a growing
group of members, newcomers, and prison inmates. The ASZC and its affiliates
have prospered owing to the sincerity of practice of its members, and the shared
commitment and support of many qualified trainees and teachers who have adapted
Sensei's ordinary, everyday style of Zen practice and training.
Click here to read about Elliston-Roshi's teacher, Rev. Dr. Matsuoka-Roshi.