Jiyu Kennett
| Houn Jiyu-Kennett | |
|---|---|
| School | Sōtō Zen Buddhism |
| Education |
Durham University Trinity College of Music |
| Personal | |
| Born |
January 1, 1924 St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, United Kingdom |
| Died | November 6, 1996 (aged 72) Mount Shasta, California, United States |
| Senior posting | |
| Based in | Shasta Abbey |
| Title | Roshi |
| Predecessor | Keido Chisan Koho |
| Successor | Daizui MacPhillamy former Head of the Order Haryo Young Head of the Order Eko Little Former Abbot of Shasta Abbey Meian Elbert Current Abbess of Shasta Abbey Daishin Morgan Abbot of Throssel Hole Abbey Gyokuko Carlson Kyogen Carlson James Ishmael Ford |
| Religious career | |
| Teacher | Seck Kim Seng Suigan Yogo |
Houn Jiyu-Kennett (Japanese: 法雲慈友ケネット, January 1, 1924 – November 6, 1996), born Peggy Teresa Nancy Kennett, was a British roshi most famous for having been the first female to be sanctioned by the Soto School of Japan to teach in the West.
Houn Jiyu-Kennett was born as Peggy Teresa Nancy Kennett in St. Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex, England on January 1, 1924. As a young woman she found herself questioning gender roles in society and grew to become disillusioned with Christianity. She studied medieval music at Durham University and then received a scholarship to Trinity College of Music in London, England. Though attracted to Buddhism, she felt during this period that she was called to serve the Church of England as a priest. However, church policies at the time did not allow women to be ordained, and this enhanced her previous disillusionment with Christianity.
She first became interested in Theravada Buddhism during this period of questioning and searching, joining the London Buddhist Vihara. In 1954 she joined the London Buddhist Society, where she continued her Buddhist studies and lectured. While there, she met the scholar D.T. Suzuki, and developed a strong interest in Zen Buddhism. In 1960 when Keido Chisan Koho of Sojiji in Japan came to the society, she was asked to make the arrangements for his stay. Koho asked if she would consider becoming his student back in Japan. She accepted the offer, and two years passed before she arrived at Sojiji to study under him.
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