Fr. Thomas Hand, S.J. (“Hando”) founded the East-West Meditation Program at Mercy Center in 1985, after having lived nearly 30 years in Japan. During his time in Japan, Fr. Hand taught haiku poetry, and studied Zen meditation with Yamada Koun Roshi, who encouraged Western students to learn Zen as a way of deepening their Judeo-Christian faith. Hando’s groundbreaking work laid a strong foundation for the continuity of the Program.
The East-West Meditation at Mercy Center honors all faith traditions, and encourages all meditative practices that lead to a compassionate heart.
All who are interested in this fun and meditative approach to writing haiku are welcome.
Haiku meetings are temporarily on hold.
If you would like to share your own haiku on the theme of “Clouds & Sky” with the other haiku group members, send an E-mail to mc@sistersofmercy.org
Fr. Thomas Hand, S.J. (“Hando”) founded the East-West Meditation Program at Mercy Center in 1985, after having lived nearly 30 years in Japan. During his time in Japan, Fr. Hand taught haiku poetry, and studied Zen meditation with Yamada Koun Rosh, who encouraged Western students to learn Zen as a way of deepening their Judeo-Christian faith. Hando’s groundbreaking work laid a strong foundation for the continuity of the Program.
After Hando’s retirement, Fr. Greg Mayers, C.Ss.R, a Redemptorist priest, award-winning author, retreat leader and Zen teacher, was invited to direct the East-West program. From 2005 to 2019, under his leadership, hundreds of retreat participants and zen students came to a deeper experience of reality.
Today, the East-West Program is blessed with a diverse group of experienced leaders and teachers. Wednesday meditation is led by Sr. Judy Cannon Retreat teachers Nona Strong, The Rev. Alice Cabotaje and Tony Tackitt have received transmission as Authentic Zen teachers in the Empty Cloud lineage of Br. Willigis Jäger, OSB, Roshi.
The East-West program honors all faith traditions, and encourages meditative practices that lead to a deeper experience of Reality.
During meditation, we forget the separate self in simple awareness.
In haiku, we seek to convey the experience of direct awareness.
