Taiso Hannya Byran Bartow Roshi, Abbot of Hollow Bones Zen
Taiso has studied and practiced Buddhism, T’ai Chi, and other eastern arts since the 1970’s. He has practiced Zen with Hollow Bones and several midwest groups. Taiso received Jukai in the Hollow Bones Rinzai Order with Jun Po Kelly, Roshi in 2005 and received Hollow Bones Priest Ordination on Mother’s Day, 2007. Taiso received Inka, dharma transmission on December 3, 2011. He currently serves as head priest of Zen River Sangha and Secretary of Friends of Zen.
He earned a BS Ed degree in Human Services and a Master of Public Administration degree. Since recovering from addiction in the 1970’s, Taiso actualizes the mission of easing suffering and service through support of this journey. His recent professional experience involves leadership of treatment programs at the nexus of the mental health and criminal justice fields. He has also taught courses in social science, technology, and research methods. Among varied interests, he is a father, sailor, scholar, and patron of the arts.
Planting Hollow Bones
Plowing noisy fields
with silence …
screeching wonder,
gulls swoop and whirl.
Awakening sews
pregnant being …
empty moment
winnowing yeses …
Such knows.
Vicara Satya Mary Connelly holds AS, BS, MSW and MD degrees. She has received training in Integrative Medicine with Andrew Weil, MD as well as training in Traditional Chinese Acupuncture and naturopathic approaches to women’s health. She is Board Certified in Family Medicine and Integrative Holistic medicine (ABFP, ABIHM). In addition, Vicara practiced as a psychotherapist from 1974-1984 and incorporates body-mind approaches in her medical practice.
Vicara has been involved in meditative practice since the early ‘70s when she studied Bhakti yoga and directed a meditation group in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She started sitting Soto Zen in 1984 under the direction of Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston Roshi of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center where she received Jukai in 1985. She was one the founding members of the Charleston Soto Zen Center in South Carolina. Vicara began practicing yoga with Ma Dhyana Kathleen Kelly-Hoffman in 1993 and has studied with Jun Po Roshi since 1994. She received Jukai with Jun Po Roshi in 1998, was designated to teach as Sensei in 2002, and received Hollow Bones Priest Ordination in 2003. On December 4, 2015, she received Inka, Dharma Transmission, from Jun Po Roshi.
Her mission/passion in life is: “To live a life of openness, no matter what. To bring that energy to those whose lives I touch.”
Her message to all is: “Wake up & be well; practice until there is nothing left and then some. The only life you can save is your own so treat yourself with ferocious love and compassion; we are all in the same boat.”
And she adds: “Through the Mondo process, my life has opened and transformed in ways I did not ‘think’ possible. Life is filled with surprises! This practice allows us to enjoy it all.”
Etsudo Shojun Jon Fuller, Head Priest
Who Am I? Not knowing
Etsudo was introduced to meditation in the 1990’s by an open-minded art teacher. This introduction opened the door to curiosity and he has been following the twisted path ever since.
Along the path he has studied several martial arts and holds a second degree black belt in Shaolin Kempo and a BS in Mechanical Engineering. After exploring many forms of practice he found a spiritual home with Zen and a deep interconnection with sangha at Zen River Sangha in Appleton.
With a deep realization of the path he took jukai vows in 2018, and was ordained as a zen priest in 2024. He is happily married to Zong Zhi Liz Fuller and together they have 2 adult children.
He currently serves as the Head Priest at Zen River Sangha and is working to continue the vision of a 21st century Zen through Hollow Bones.
Reishin Dai Nei Denise Leong has been in the Hollow Bones Zen sangha since 2005, taking jukai vows in 2007, and ordaining as a priest 2010. She currently serves as one of four teachers at the Zen River Sangha in Appleton, Wisconsin. For six years, she also served as Inji to Jun Po Roshi, former Abbot of Hollow Bones Zen.
Reishin spent forty-two years in education as a teacher in middle school, high school, college, and finally as the IT director for a public school system. In her retirement, Reishin has been blessed with the opportunity to serve as a chaplain for a local hospital since 2018.
After twenty years of doing volunteer work in hospice, Reishin recognized the importance and value of death awareness. She has embarked on a new journey of sharing death awareness through the Hollow Bones Zen course “Zen and Facing Sickness, Old Age, and Death,” as well as hosting Zen Death Cafes online. She has a certificate as an End-of-Life Doula through the University of Vermont School of Medicine and as a Grief Support Specialist through the University of Wisconsin.
She lives a quiet life in rural Wisconsin with her husband where each day she remembers the koan her Alzheimer’s-stricken mother repeatedly gave to her: “What time is it?”
Now.
Kevala lives in Wisconsin where Rinzai Zen found her under the most unlikely circumstances.
She began practice in 2002, delighted to have found Buddha, Dharma and Sangha, a living teaching of Zen, in the basement of a Catholic abbey in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Attracted to the clarity and truth of Zen, chanting the enigmatic Heart Sutra opened a door. Hollow Bones Five Training Element Practice gives a structure to bring this practice into the world.
She took jukai in 2005 and ordained as a priest in 2010, vowing to serve and liberate all beings, to enlighten her shadow states, to master true teachings and to follow her true path.
Her background has been as a business analyst, and she is trained as an Ayurvedic educator with further clinical training in this ancient healing art.
“Gratitude to all who made it possible for me to find this path, to those who walk with me, and who help me see the weeds in my way.”
Soham Clint VanEgeren (Inactive)
Soham Clint VanEgeren has been practicing Yoga and Zen meditation since 1996. In 2004, Soham was ordained as a Zen priest in the Hollow Bones Zen Order with Jun Po Roshi. Soham spent four years training and studying at various Zen centers. Soham has been staffing and leading Zen retreats since 2000.
Liaoran Bo Re Spencer Grey Kindred took jukai June 4, 2013, and was ordained on December 5, 2014.
IN MEMORIAM
Manju Usra Bill Frackelton
Manju Bill Frackelton died peacefully with his family and friend at his side on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at 4:42 p.m.
Manju Usra Bill Frackelton began Rinzai Zen Buddhist practice in 1993. He took lay practitioner vows with Jun Po Kando Kelly in 1998 and was ordained as a lay priest in the Hollow Bones Order in 2003. Manju was a military veteran, social worker and prison chaplain. In addition to the Zen River Sangha practice community, he was active in supporting formerly incarcerated persons in their successful return to our community.