Toni Packer
Encyclopedia
Toni Packer is the founder of Springwater Center, located in Springwater, in the finger lakes region of upstate New York, an hour south of Rochester. The center was founded in 1981 as the Genesee Valley Zen Center and has since been renamed. Up to 16 retreats are held a year in what can be a curious blend of ritual-less zen and neo-advaita silent retreats, and David Bohm
style dialogues/group meetings. Packer is a former student in the Sanbo Kyodan
lineage of Zen Buddhism, and was previously in line to be the successor of Phillip Kapleau at the Rochester Zen Center
. Her eventual departure from Zen Buddhism was due in part to her growing scepticism toward the use of Japan
ese ritual in Zen as practised at the Rochester Zen center. Today her discursion of meditative inquiry is informed largely by her own vision, but also by the talks and writings of J. Krishnamurti. Packer has rejected labels for herself such as a teacher or authority, though some of the individuals she has asked to carry on her work do not. (as evidenced on the Springwater Center web site).
, that Packer first developed mistrust for authority. The family eventually made a move to Switzerland
, where she married her husband Kyle Packer in 1950. The pair moved to New York
near the State University of New York at Buffalo, where Kyle came to earn a degree in psychology
. Toni began reading the pioneering works about Zen Buddhism by Alan Watts
, D. T. Suzuki and Philip Kapleau
. It was the latter which had the greatest impact on her, and she soon joined the nearby Rochester Zen Center
with her husband. Throughout the 1970s she accepted minor teaching positions at Rochester, and in 1981 she ran the center for an extended period in Kapleau's absence. During this time she instituted many changes in the practice there and discontinued wearing the rakusu
that normally distinguishes teachers from students. Packer left the Center shortly after Kapleau's return and ceased calling herself a Buddhist. She opened the Genesee Valley Zen Center that same year. In 1986 the center relocated and changed its name, dropping the word Zen to become the Springwater Center for Meditative Inquiry and Retreats in Springwater, New York
. The word "Zen" was dropped from the Center's name as a result of Packer's move away from Japanese Zen Buddhist traditions. Through stripped of rituals, Packer still finds the practice of zazen
to be useful. (Toni would probably call it "sitting meditation," since this is simple English and she is not attached to any tradition, Japanese or otherwise.)
Packer has been described as "...a Zen teacher minus the 'Zen' and minus the 'teacher,'" emphasizing the importance of meditative inquiry without practicing Buddhism.
David Bohm
David Joseph Bohm FRS was an American-born British quantum physicist who contributed to theoretical physics, philosophy, neuropsychology, and the Manhattan Project.-Youth and college:...
style dialogues/group meetings. Packer is a former student in the Sanbo Kyodan
Sanbo Kyodan
Sanbo Kyodan is a Zen sect derived from both the Rinzai and Soto traditions of Japanese Zen.-History:...
lineage of Zen Buddhism, and was previously in line to be the successor of Phillip Kapleau at the Rochester Zen Center
Rochester Zen Center
The Rochester Zen Center is a Sōtō and Rinzai Zen Buddhist sangha in the Sanbo Kyodan lineage, located in Rochester, New York and established in 1966 by Philip Kapleau. It is one of the oldest Zen centers in the United States. The history of the Rochester Zen Center begins overseas with the...
. Her eventual departure from Zen Buddhism was due in part to her growing scepticism toward the use of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese ritual in Zen as practised at the Rochester Zen center. Today her discursion of meditative inquiry is informed largely by her own vision, but also by the talks and writings of J. Krishnamurti. Packer has rejected labels for herself such as a teacher or authority, though some of the individuals she has asked to carry on her work do not. (as evidenced on the Springwater Center web site).
Biography
Toni Packer was born in Berlin, Germany in 1927. Her family was Lutheran in name only, as they endeavored not to divulge the fact that her mother was of Jewish decent. It was in her childhood, growing up amidst the turmoil of Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
, that Packer first developed mistrust for authority. The family eventually made a move to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, where she married her husband Kyle Packer in 1950. The pair moved to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
near the State University of New York at Buffalo, where Kyle came to earn a degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. Toni began reading the pioneering works about Zen Buddhism by Alan Watts
Alan Watts
Alan Wilson Watts was a British philosopher, writer, and speaker, best known as an interpreter and popularizer of Eastern philosophy for a Western audience. Born in Chislehurst, he moved to the United States in 1938 and began Zen training in New York...
, D. T. Suzuki and Philip Kapleau
Philip Kapleau
Philip Kapleau was a teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition, a blending of Japanese Sōtō and Rinzai schools.-Early life:...
. It was the latter which had the greatest impact on her, and she soon joined the nearby Rochester Zen Center
Rochester Zen Center
The Rochester Zen Center is a Sōtō and Rinzai Zen Buddhist sangha in the Sanbo Kyodan lineage, located in Rochester, New York and established in 1966 by Philip Kapleau. It is one of the oldest Zen centers in the United States. The history of the Rochester Zen Center begins overseas with the...
with her husband. Throughout the 1970s she accepted minor teaching positions at Rochester, and in 1981 she ran the center for an extended period in Kapleau's absence. During this time she instituted many changes in the practice there and discontinued wearing the rakusu
Rakusu
The rakusu is a traditionally Japanese garment worn around the neck of Zen Buddhists who have taken the precepts. It can also signify . It is made of 16 or more strips of cloth, sewn together into a brick-like pattern by the student during their period of preparation for their jukai or ordination...
that normally distinguishes teachers from students. Packer left the Center shortly after Kapleau's return and ceased calling herself a Buddhist. She opened the Genesee Valley Zen Center that same year. In 1986 the center relocated and changed its name, dropping the word Zen to become the Springwater Center for Meditative Inquiry and Retreats in Springwater, New York
Springwater, New York
Springwater is a town in Livingston County, New York, United States. The population was 2,322 at the 2000 census.The Town of Springwater is in the southeast part of the county.-History:The first settlers arrived around 1807...
. The word "Zen" was dropped from the Center's name as a result of Packer's move away from Japanese Zen Buddhist traditions. Through stripped of rituals, Packer still finds the practice of zazen
Zazen
In Zen Buddhism, zazen is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind, and be able to concentrate enough to experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment .- Significance :Zazen is considered the heart of Zen Buddhist practice...
to be useful. (Toni would probably call it "sitting meditation," since this is simple English and she is not attached to any tradition, Japanese or otherwise.)
Packer has been described as "...a Zen teacher minus the 'Zen' and minus the 'teacher,'" emphasizing the importance of meditative inquiry without practicing Buddhism.
See also
- Jiddu KrishnamurtiJiddu KrishnamurtiJiddu Krishnamurti or J. Krishnamurti or , was a renowned writer and speaker on philosophical and spiritual subjects. His subject matter included: psychological revolution, the nature of the mind, meditation, human relationships, and bringing about positive change in society...
- David BohmDavid BohmDavid Joseph Bohm FRS was an American-born British quantum physicist who contributed to theoretical physics, philosophy, neuropsychology, and the Manhattan Project.-Youth and college:...
- Buddhism in the United StatesBuddhism in the United StatesBuddhism is one of the largest religions in the United States behind Christianity, Judaism and Nonreligious, and approximate with Islam and Hinduism. American Buddhists include many Asian Americans, as well as a large number of converts of other ethnicities, and now their children and even...
- Buddhism in the WestBuddhism in the WestBuddhism in the West broadly encompasses the knowledge and practice of Buddhism outside of Asia. Occasional intersections between Western civilization and the Buddhist world have been occurring for thousands of years, but it was not until the era of European colonization of Buddhist countries in...
- Timeline of Zen Buddhism in the United StatesTimeline of Zen Buddhism in the United StatesBelow is a timeline of important events regarding Zen Buddhism in the United States. Dates with "?" are approximate.-Early history:* 1893: Soyen Shaku comes to the United States to lecture at the World Parliament of Religions held in Chicago...
- Advaita VedantaAdvaita VedantaAdvaita Vedanta is considered to be the most influential and most dominant sub-school of the Vedānta school of Hindu philosophy. Other major sub-schools of Vedānta are Dvaita and ; while the minor ones include Suddhadvaita, Dvaitadvaita and Achintya Bhedabheda...