Still Sitting is proud of the relationships it forms with organizations and individuals around the world as they engage in meditation and mindfulness practice. Occasionally, we like to share their stories in our Spotlight Series.
Geido Ann Grossman’s spiritual journey has had a tendency towards the pragmatic. Although today she serves as the Assistant Teacher, or Hoshi, of the Southern Palm Zen Group, becoming a teacher in a formal capacity may not have been something she’d foreseen.
Instead, her career in healthcare and Zen studies have frequently commingled into what she describes as a “life practice.”
Grossman has been studying Zen for years. But, prior to making the move to sunny Boca Raton, Florida, with her husband, Ann hailed from “up north,” as the Floridians say.
She began practicing Buddhism in Pennsylvania, crossing over into New York to do meditation at The Village Zendo. In 2010, she received Jukai, which is a commitment to uphold the Buddhist precepts.
Grossman was, at the same time, working as a physician assistant in palliative care. After receiving a postcard from the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, she became interested in their Buddhist chaplaincy program, which she completed in 2014. Becoming a chaplain appealed to her as a good way to round out her palliative care team. She also found that Buddhists were very underrepresented among hospital chaplains.
“Buddhists make very good chaplains because they have an open view of religion, of spirituality. They really come to the room with no agenda,” Grossman told Still Sitting.
For Grossman, working in healthcare and practicing Zen Buddhism were not different hats to don. Instead, they are both part of her life’s work that have naturally mapped onto each other.
Chaplaincy provided an avenue to explore Buddhism as part of a service role in a real-world setting.
“My practice of Zen and my practice of medicine and my practice of chaplaincy were one practice. It was like a life practice. So, I never saw them as separate. I never looked at any progression like, ‘First, I’m a chaplain, then I’m going to be a priest.’ Practicing as a PA and as a chaplain was just an expression of my Zen practice in the world. I think that’s what I’m supposed to do,” she said.
The Southern Palm Zen Group
In 2017, Grossman, her husband, and their cat, Izzy, all moved to Florida, choosing Boca Raton specifically because of the Southern Palm Zen Group, which is part of the White Plum sangha.
Founded almost 30 years ago by Mitchel Doshin Cantor, the SPZG follows the lineage of Maezumi Roshi and Bernie Glassman. Cantor was succeeded as Sensei by Jane Jishin Faysash when he passed away in 2021.
“They are a dedicated group, supportive of each other and welcoming to newcomers. I feel humbled and blessed that they choose to practice at SPZG. The Sangha is a big part of my life and practice,” she told Still Sitting.
Grossman received ordination to become a Hoshi, Assistant Teacher, for Southern Palm in 2023. She now helps to lead the schedule, which includes meditation, kinhin, and tea service. There are also weekly discussion groups and teachings from a selected reading list. Currently they are working their way through Appreciate Your Life by Maezumi Roshi.
“We also have a once-a-month zazenaki, which is an all-day retreat. It includes a longer Dharma talk, but it’s not based on a book or anything we’re studying. It’s kind of a dealer’s choice. So whoever the teacher is at that time, gets to pick the subject,” she said.
The group is also involved in prison outreach, encouraging sangha members to become prisoner pen pals. They also offer to help sew rakusus, part of a Zen monk’s vestments, for incarcerated individuals asking to receive jukai.
Working with Still Sitting
Grossman got in touch with Still Sitting after observing that the group’s meditation cushions had “seen better days.”
After speaking at length with Lidunn, one of the founders of Still Sitting, she put in an order of new zafus and zabutons for their meditation space.
“We didn’t tell anyone we were ordering new cushions. We just ordered them and we put them down in the zendo. And the first night, the expression on people’s faces as they sat down, was kind of like ‘oohhh, did we get new cushions?’” said Grossman.
“People really really liked the cushions,” she added.
Learn more about the Southern Palm Zen Group and their schedule.
If you enjoyed this Spotlight, we encourage you to read about others, like Indy Community yoga, and our friend who is teaching kids to sit on zafus in their school library.