Paths of Practice with Rev. Gigen Mark Hollingshead

Paths of Practice with Rev. Gigen Mark Hollingshead

Author: Vincent Moore April 11, 2026 Duration: 1:03:24

Rev. Gigen Mark Hollingshead has been studying Zen for over 25 years. He began training at Middlebar Monastery in Stockton, California. Twelve years ago he moved to Santa Cruz and began practice at Ocean Gate Zen Center. In 2017 Gigen went through the Jukai ceremony to officially become Daijaku Roshi’s student, and in 2023 went through novice priest ordination (Shukke Tokodo). Gigen holds a B.A. in Religious Studies from California State University, Sacramento.


For more information about Rev. Gigen and other resources mentioned in the episode, please visit the following links:

https://oceangatezen.org/

https://www.youtube.com/@CrankyZen

https://www.youtube.com/@markhollingshead5096


We talked about:

*Finding stability, balance, and meditation at an early age in martial arts training

*Middlebar Monastery, MacDonough Roshi, and practice without pretension

*Ocean Gate Zen Center, Jukai, and the decision to ordain

*Zazen, Fudōshin or "the immovable mind," and recognizing stillness in motion

*And the importance of getting out of your own head and comfort zone and to practice with others


Vincent Moore hosts Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism, a space where personal stories take center stage. Each episode is built around a simple, profound question: what does it actually look like to live with Buddhist teachings? You’ll hear from people whose lives have been shaped by this path, from long-time monastics and dedicated lay practitioners to those who have just felt a curious pull toward mindfulness and compassion. The conversations avoid dry theory, focusing instead on the messy, human, and often surprising realities of integrating practice into daily life-through family, work, doubt, and discovery. This podcast operates on the belief that there are as many ways to walk this road as there are people walking it, gently exploring that diversity one honest conversation at a time. It’s less about providing answers and more about sharing the map-making process itself, offering companionship and insight for anyone interested in the varied terrain of spiritual life.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Paths of Practice: Conversations on Journeys into Buddhism
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