Edward Espe Brown found his way to Zen practice in 1965, and dove in whole-heartedly. He was the first head cook, or tenzo, at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, and in 1970 his best-selling book, The Tassajara Bread Book, was published.

His teacher, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, ordained him as a priest in 1971, giving him the dharma name Jusan Kainei (“Longevity Mountain, Peaceful Sea”).

In the years since, Edward helped found Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, worked with Deborah Madison in writing The Greens Cookbook, and has written several other cookbooks, including The Complete Tassajara Cookbook, and Tomato Blessings and Radish Teachings. He edited Not Always So, a collection of Suzuki Roshi’s lectures, and in 2007, he was the subject of a critically acclaimed feature-length documentary film entitled How to Cook Your Life, directed by Doris Dörrie.

In 2018, No Recipe: Cooking as a Spiritual Practice, Edward’s book about finding our own way in the kitchen – and in life – was published. One of Edward’s students, Danny Parker, put together a book of his lectures, selected from 30 years’ worth of teaching; The Most Important Point was published in 2019.

In addition to studying Zen, Edward has also done extensive vipassana practice, yoga, and chi gung. He leads regular sitting groups and meditation retreats in Northern California and offers workshops in the U.S. and internationally on a variety of subjects, including cooking, handwriting change, and Mindfulness Touch.

Source: peacefulseasangha.org

“Suzuki Roshi once said, ‘The most important point is to find out what is the most important point.’ After a lifetime of practice inspired by his teacher, Suzuki Roshi, Ed Brown has discovered that the most important point is love and acceptance. No one expresses this most important point better than Ed. His simple, soulful, honest talks will melt your heart.”

―Norman Fischer, poet, Zen priest, and author of Experience: Thinking, Writing, Language, and Religion

“It was the wish of Ed’s teacher, Shunryu Suzuki, that Zen Buddhist practice might be transformed into a vibrant and new form in coming to North America. Ed exemplifies that transformative view.”

—Danny S. Parker, editor

Jon Joseph Roshi of San Mateo Zen and PZI created this series to support the hardworking innovators and shining voices of modern Zen: scholars, writers, poets, translators, activists, artists, teachers, and more.

All proceeds for each event, including teacher dana, go directly to the guest speaker. Event attendees are encouraged to give as generously as you are able, so we can offer deep thanks to Luminaries guests.

Our suggested donation is $10 for PZI Members and $12 for Non-Members, but the scale slides from zero depending on one’s ability to contribute. We also greatly appreciate Patrons, who help support the program with larger gifts of $25—$250.