Our Teachers

Portrait of Rinsen Roshi.

  • Jay Rinsen Weik Roshi is the Abbot of the Buddhist Temp,e of Toledo. He received full Dharma Transmission as a recognized Zen teacher by Rev. James Myoun Ford Roshi in the Rinzai Koan Introspection and Soto Zen traditions.

    He began his Zen studies in 1987 at Zen Mountain Monastery with John Daido Loori Roshi. In 1998, he receved the sixteen buddhist precepts and the Dharma name Chikyo. In 2001 he moved to Toledo and co-founded the Toledo Zen Meditation Group with his wife Rev. Karen Do’on Weik. In 2004 he continued his zen study with Bonnie Myotai Treace Sensei, Daido Roshi’s first dharma heir, and what began as the Toledo Zen Meditation Group evolved into the Toledo Zen Center. In 2007 Myotai Sensei acknowledged him as Shuso (head monk) for the winter training period, and his Dharma Talks began being podcast as ‘The Drinking Gourd Podcast.’ In 2008 he received the Dharma name Rinsen and founded the Drinking Gourd Institute, a 501c3 non-profit organization that evolved from interest in supporting the podcasts and connecting its listeners with Jay and each other.

    Rinsen has also studied with Fr. Kevin Hunt Sensei, OCSO from 2006 to 2009, and in 2009 he became a shoken student of James Myo’un Ford Roshi who is the primary center of gravity for his continued study of the Dharma today. In June 2009 James Ford empowered Jay to meet with students in private interview, and in July of 2009, Jay was confirmed as a Senior Dharma Teacher by James Myo’un Ford Roshi, Melissa Myozen Blacker Sensei, and David Dayan Rynick Sensei. He was ordained a Zen Buddhist Priest in the Soto lineage on February 28th, 2010 by Melissa Myozen Blacker Roshi. He received Denkai Traismission from James Myo'un Ford Roshi on Jan 4th, 2014, Denbo Transmission on March 19th 2015, and Inka Shomei on August 18, 2019.

    Rinsen has a Masters in Jazz Studies from the New England Conservatory and is a professor of Classical and Jazz Guitar at the University of Toledo. He plays with Crosscurrents and is the leader of the Zen Arts Ensemble. He was given the rank of 5th degree back belt in Aikido by Bill Gleason Shihan and is the Guiding Sensei at Shobu Aikido of Ohio.

Do'on Sensei sprinkling wisdom water at a wedding.

  • Karen Do’on Weik Sensei is a Soto Zen priest and co-founder of the Buddhist Temple of Toledo and the Drinking Gourd Institute. Rev. Do'on received Denkai transmission from Rinsen on August 15, 2015, followed by Denbo transmission in April 2022. She is also influenced by the teachings of Gelek Rimpoche.

    She began her Zen studies while in college in the 1980s. For the first ten years of her practice, her teacher was Richard Clarke. She met her husband, Rev. Jay Rinsen Weik, at the Shobu Aikido of Boston in 1993. By 1994, they were studying Zen together with John Daido Loori, late-Abbott of Zen Mountain Monastery in the Catskills and then, in 2004, with Bonnie Myotai Treace Sensei, Daido roshi’s first dharma heir. In 2009, she was confirmed as a Senior Dharma Teacher and ordained as a Zen Buddhist Priest by Melissa Roshi in the Soto lineage in February 2010. Rev. Do-on was acknowledged as Shuso in Feb of 2012.

Our Clergy

  • Rev. Winifred Shokai Martin

    Rev. Rin’on (“Wheel Turning Warmheartedness”) Shokai (“Luminous Ocean”) began practicing with BTT after practicing intensively in the Vipasana tradition. She took the precepts in 2010, then became a Shoken student of Rinsen and Do’on in 2015. On November 17, 2019 she was acknowledged as a Disciple at the Shuso Hossen Ceremony. She was ordained August 8, 2021. Shokai has a fierce love for poetry, especially the works of Mary Oliver. Shokai serves as the President of the BTT Board of Directors.

  • Rev. Kaishin

    Rev. Kaishin began his Zen practice in 1997 with a retreat at Zen Mountain Monastery. After maintaining a home practice for several years, Kaishin began traveling to the Buddhist Temple of Toledo in 2004. He took the precepts in 2010 and became a Shoken student in 2015. He was ordained in March of 2022 and served as Shuso during Spring Ango of 2023. Kaishin serves as one of BTT’s two sewing instructors, and also as Secretary on th Board of Directors.

  • Rev. Anthony Setsho Fontana

    Rev. Rin’on (“Wheel Turning Warmheartedness”) Setsho (“Snowflake) took the precepts in 2011, then became a Shoken student of Rinsen and Do’on in 2015. He was ordained July 31, 2022. Setsho is dedicated to making recovery support available for anyone suffering from any type of addiction. He is one of the founders of the Meditation & Recovery Group. Setsho also loves board and role playing games, and the people who play them. He co-leads the BTT Gaming Group.

  • Rev. Charles Yugen Stuart

    Rev. Rin’on (“Wheel Turning Warmheartedness”) Yugen (“Subtle Source”) took the precepts in 2013, then became a Shoken student of Rinsen and Do’on in 2015. He was ordained November 28, 2022. Yugen serves as one of BTT’s two sewing leads, training in the Nyoho-e Zen sewing tradition under Zen sewing teacher Kaaren Wiken.

  • Rev. Jenna Zuisei Hirschman

    Rev. Rin’on (“Wheel Turning Warmheartedness”) Zuisei (“Auspicious Vow”) took the precepts in 2014, then became a Shoken student of Rinsen and Do’on in 2015. She was ordained November 28, 2022. Zuisei is passionate about welcoming guests and new members to deepen their practice, serving as Director of Communications and Membership.