rancho penasquitos zen center
The north San Diego site of Three Treasures Zen Community operates under the guidance of Nicolee Jikyo McMahon Roshi and Barry Kaigen McMahon Sensei. Nicolee Roshi is a Dharma Successor of Taizan Maezumi Roshi, one of the early Japanese masters to come to the United States; Barry Sensei is a Dharma Successor of Charles Tenshin Fletcher Sensei. Both are part of the White Plum Sangha lineage.
Rancho Penasquitos (RP) is a mix of dedicated practitioners and people who are new to the path. Students attend weekly, with practices ranging from simple breath practice to shikantaza (just sitting) to koan practice. Both teachers have extensive experience in Zen and tailor practices to the needs of the students. Students are encouraged to pursue the path that is most meaningful to them, whether it is a lay, priest or teacher path.
Nicolee Roshi is a Zen priest, artist, grandmother, and works as a Marriage and Family Therapist. She values experimenting with the traditional Japanese Zen forms to determine which practices resonate with Westerners. She originated the Practice of Immediacy (PI), which integrates the visual arts, writing, music, and movement into retreats. She also developed a Turning the Dharma Wheel Practice that is used in and outside of retreats. Nicolee Roshi encourages students to deepen their practice by attending retreats offered throughout the year. She has authored a pamphlet on the student/teacher relationship and is also certified in the Big Mind training developed by Genpo Merzel Roshi, head of the White Plum.
Nicolee Roshi also has four Dharma Successors spanning the country: Bill Yoshin Jordan Sensei of the Santa Monica Zen Center; Robert Joshin Althouse Sensei of the Zen Community of Oak Park in Illinois; John Jiyu Gage Sensei of the Vista Zen Center, and Joan Hogetsu Hoeberichts Sensei of the Heart Circle Sangha in New Jersey.
