Alan Senauke

Alan Senauke was a multifaceted American figure, born in 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, to a secular Jewish family. He later relocated to the San Francisco Bay area in 1968, where he became involved with the Berkeley Zen Center. This marked the beginning of his spiritual journey, which would eventually lead him to become an ordained Sōtō priest. Senauke's talents extended beyond spirituality, as he was also a skilled folk musician and poet.

As a prominent figure in the Buddhist community, Senauke held various leadership positions, including serving as the Abbot of the Berkeley Zen Center and executive director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship from 1991 to 2001. He was also the founder of Think Sangha, a collective of writers and intellectuals affiliated with the Buddhist Peace Fellowship and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. In 1998, Senauke received Dharma transmission from his teacher Sojun Mel Weitsman, a significant milestone in his spiritual career. He passed away in 2024, leaving behind a legacy that reflected his diverse pursuits and commitments to spirituality, social issues, and the arts.