ABOUT Kaku, Sensei
Sensei Robert Kaku (歌空) Gunn, founder and director of Deep Ocean Zendo in Virginia Beach, Virginia, is a Soto Zen priest and Zen teacher in the White Plum lineage.
He began Zen practice over 25 years ago with John Daido Loori, Roshi at Zen Mountain Monastery. He received priest ordination and dharma transmission from Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara of the Village Zendo in New York City. Kaku Sensei’s lineage comes from Roshi Enkyo through Maezumi Roshi, whose teaching combined Soto priest training with the study of the Rinzai koan system. |
Pastor & TeacherIn addition to his Zen study and training, Kaku Sensei served numerous congregations as their pastor in the United Church of Christ in Maine, Boston and the New York/Long Island area.
He has also served as adjunct faculty at Union Theological Seminary and New York Theological Seminary in the departments of Psychology and Religion. After receiving his A.B. in Philosophy from Columbia College, he received his M.Div., S.T.M. and Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary in New York and his D.Min. from Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA. He is the author of Journeys Into Emptiness: Dōgen, Merton and Jung and the Quest for Transformation, Paulist Press, 2000, and One Bright Pearl, Vol. 1, An Unholy Memoir, and Vol. 2, God is the Source of My Life, 2017. |
Cancer Survivor
When Kaku found he had pancreatic cancer a few years ago, he applied his experience as psychotherapist, Christian Minister, and Zen Priest, creating a unique path through the fear and uncertainty. Here is an intimate dialog between Bob and Zen Master Roshi Pat O’Hara that offers comfort, support, and indispensable guidance for all who now or will someday face the difficulties of old age, sickness and death.