Sandy Gentei Stewart is serving in a new role as Zen mentor advising and supporting Iron Tree Blooming, a student-led meditation club on campus founded in the Renzai Zen tradition.
Sandy Gentei Stewart has joined the Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life as a community affiliate supporting Buddhist Life. Steward is serving in a new role as Zen mentor advising and supporting Iron Tree Blooming, a student-led meditation club on campus founded in the Renzai Zen tradition.
Stewart has a long history with Iron Tree Blooming and Elon University. He has often led Zen mini-retreats on campus and for many years co-taught the winter term course “Zen Practice and Theory” with Anthony Weston, professor emeritus of philosophy. Sandy will work with longtime faculty advisor Barbara Gordon to provide opportunities for students and others to learn about Zen.
Stewart studied Zen and was ordained teacher (Osho) under Joshu Sasaki Roshi. In 1975, Stewart was appointed abbot of the Jemez Bodhi Mandala (now Bodhi Manda) in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, and he served as the abbot and teacher for the North Carolina Zen Center from 1978 to 2015.