Five Mountain Order Educational Union (FMOEU)
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The Five Mountain Order Educational Union (FMOEU) is established with the mission of providing a means of structured and graduated education and training for postulants, priests and teachers within the Five Mountain Order. Enrollment in FMOEU programs is thus limited to priestly and teacher pursuant members of the Five Mountain Order. Click on this link to download the course catalog.
The FMOEU currently houses both the College of Zen Buddhist Studies (CZBS) and the Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education (GCZBE). Within this structure, the FMOEU grants four primary degrees, namely an Associates Degree in Zen Buddhist Studies (A.Phil), a Bachelors Degree in Zen Buddhist Studies (B.Phil), a Masters Degree in Zen Buddhist Education (M.Phil) and a Doctorate Degree in Zen Buddhist Education (Ph.D).
Successful completion of any of the four primary courses of study offered within the FMOEU readies graduates to receive corresponding ordination within the Five Mountain Order. The A.Phil is prerequisite for ordination as a Zen Priest (SN), the B.Phil is required for ordination as a Bodhisattva Priest (BSN). The Graduate School is by Appointment Only at the discretion of each priests Guiding Teacher (providing they have already received inka and or transmission) and the M.Phil leads to certification (inka) as a Dharma Master Teacher (SBN), and the Ph.D leads to recognition (transmission) as a Zen Master Teacher (SSN).
Traditionally, Ancestral Zen training requires a unique person-to-person, mind-to-mind connection between a student and a teacher who maintain constant contact and commitment with and to one another. Indeed, the practice and promulgation of Ancestral Zen is centered on the teaching exchange that occurs within the confines of the aforementioned student-teacher institution. This presents a unique challenge when implementing a structured academic approach to the Zen process, in that the commitment between a student and a teacher must be remain uninterrupted, as knowledge and insight are continually presented (academic mountain), and wisdom is continually manifest (insight mountain). Therefore, it is not helpful for an aspiring Zen student to be bouncing from teacher to teacher formally engaging the dharma; once a student-teacher relationship is formally established it MUST be uniquely fostered for a mind-to-mind dharma attainment to properly render.
The importance of the student-teacher relationship and connection is very much honored and encouraged through the FMOEU educational model. Thus, FMOEU is uniquely a geographically decentralized educational institution, wherein professorships may be granted to ordained M.Phil and Ph.D graduates in good standing. In this way, ordained teachers may individually provide formal education and guidance to their postulant pupils through the standardized curriculum of both the CZBS A.Phil and B.Phil programs. This educational model functions in a manner so that students need not travel long distances, nor engage as students, many different teachers (and thus styles of dharma instruction) in order to receive a proper person-to-person, mind-to-mind dharma training and education.
While this geographically decentralized model allows for a large degree of autonomy amongst the graduated teachers of the Five Mountain Order, the FMOEU still functionally provides oversight for any formal academic teaching efforts taking place under the FMOEU banner. To this effect, all FMOEU academic theological designations and degrees are matriculated and issued ONLY by the head office through Professors in the Five Mountain Order/Educational Union. In this manner, the integrity of the academic rigor and content of our programs may be maintained, alongside the trademark “decentralized whilst unified” approach of the Five Mountain Order.
The A.Phil and B.Phil programs offered through the FMOEU via the College of Zen Buddhist Studies are primarily professional degrees, preparing students for ordination and service as Zen Priests. Therefore, these latter mentioned courses of study follow very standardized curricula; these degrees are matriculated individually pending graduation through a student’s professor and the FMOEU head office guiding teacher. Conversely, the M.Phil and Ph.D in Zen Buddhist Education programs through the Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education are largely research, advanced studies and professional practice courses. These highest level designation programs therein require a greater degree of central oversight, in that potential graduate’s portfolios are examined for approval, pending matriculation and graduation by a body of appointed Ph.D holding teachers of the FMOEU, alongside the head office guiding teacher.
FMOEU also functions effectively as a program accreditation body, which recognizes equivalent programs of study for acceptance as fulfillment of the academic educational requirements needed for ordination within the Five Mountain Order. Currently, the Masters in Buddhist Doctrine (M.Bd) offered through the Prajna Institute of Buddhist Studies (under the direction of Rev. James Jiun Foster) is accepted as equivalency accreditation from FMOEU for Zen Priests and Bodhisattva Priests.
College of Zen Buddhist Studies
Entrance into the CZBS College of Zen Buddhist Studies is mainly for individuals currently engaged in a priestly track under a qualified teacher of the Five Mountain Order, and that the applicant has been ordained as Novice Priest before commencing studies. Auditing of classes by other Buddhist Practitioners is permissible and needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis. To apply to the CZBS click on this link.
The College of Zen Buddhist Studies primarily serves to train priests in fundamental Buddhist doctrine, traditional Zen liturgical practice and function, as well as educating priests in a broad spectrum of the essentials of pastoral care from both a priestly and administrative standpoint.
This course of study aims to help priests establish a clear direction for their ordained practice and outreach, whilst developing the knowledge and skill set to be successful in pursuing it. Successful completion of this course of study will fully prepare a priest for service in running their own local Zen center and/or outreach program.
There are two degree programs offered within the College of Zen Buddhist Studies:
Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education
The FMOEU currently houses both the College of Zen Buddhist Studies (CZBS) and the Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education (GCZBE). Within this structure, the FMOEU grants four primary degrees, namely an Associates Degree in Zen Buddhist Studies (A.Phil), a Bachelors Degree in Zen Buddhist Studies (B.Phil), a Masters Degree in Zen Buddhist Education (M.Phil) and a Doctorate Degree in Zen Buddhist Education (Ph.D).
Successful completion of any of the four primary courses of study offered within the FMOEU readies graduates to receive corresponding ordination within the Five Mountain Order. The A.Phil is prerequisite for ordination as a Zen Priest (SN), the B.Phil is required for ordination as a Bodhisattva Priest (BSN). The Graduate School is by Appointment Only at the discretion of each priests Guiding Teacher (providing they have already received inka and or transmission) and the M.Phil leads to certification (inka) as a Dharma Master Teacher (SBN), and the Ph.D leads to recognition (transmission) as a Zen Master Teacher (SSN).
Traditionally, Ancestral Zen training requires a unique person-to-person, mind-to-mind connection between a student and a teacher who maintain constant contact and commitment with and to one another. Indeed, the practice and promulgation of Ancestral Zen is centered on the teaching exchange that occurs within the confines of the aforementioned student-teacher institution. This presents a unique challenge when implementing a structured academic approach to the Zen process, in that the commitment between a student and a teacher must be remain uninterrupted, as knowledge and insight are continually presented (academic mountain), and wisdom is continually manifest (insight mountain). Therefore, it is not helpful for an aspiring Zen student to be bouncing from teacher to teacher formally engaging the dharma; once a student-teacher relationship is formally established it MUST be uniquely fostered for a mind-to-mind dharma attainment to properly render.
The importance of the student-teacher relationship and connection is very much honored and encouraged through the FMOEU educational model. Thus, FMOEU is uniquely a geographically decentralized educational institution, wherein professorships may be granted to ordained M.Phil and Ph.D graduates in good standing. In this way, ordained teachers may individually provide formal education and guidance to their postulant pupils through the standardized curriculum of both the CZBS A.Phil and B.Phil programs. This educational model functions in a manner so that students need not travel long distances, nor engage as students, many different teachers (and thus styles of dharma instruction) in order to receive a proper person-to-person, mind-to-mind dharma training and education.
While this geographically decentralized model allows for a large degree of autonomy amongst the graduated teachers of the Five Mountain Order, the FMOEU still functionally provides oversight for any formal academic teaching efforts taking place under the FMOEU banner. To this effect, all FMOEU academic theological designations and degrees are matriculated and issued ONLY by the head office through Professors in the Five Mountain Order/Educational Union. In this manner, the integrity of the academic rigor and content of our programs may be maintained, alongside the trademark “decentralized whilst unified” approach of the Five Mountain Order.
The A.Phil and B.Phil programs offered through the FMOEU via the College of Zen Buddhist Studies are primarily professional degrees, preparing students for ordination and service as Zen Priests. Therefore, these latter mentioned courses of study follow very standardized curricula; these degrees are matriculated individually pending graduation through a student’s professor and the FMOEU head office guiding teacher. Conversely, the M.Phil and Ph.D in Zen Buddhist Education programs through the Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education are largely research, advanced studies and professional practice courses. These highest level designation programs therein require a greater degree of central oversight, in that potential graduate’s portfolios are examined for approval, pending matriculation and graduation by a body of appointed Ph.D holding teachers of the FMOEU, alongside the head office guiding teacher.
FMOEU also functions effectively as a program accreditation body, which recognizes equivalent programs of study for acceptance as fulfillment of the academic educational requirements needed for ordination within the Five Mountain Order. Currently, the Masters in Buddhist Doctrine (M.Bd) offered through the Prajna Institute of Buddhist Studies (under the direction of Rev. James Jiun Foster) is accepted as equivalency accreditation from FMOEU for Zen Priests and Bodhisattva Priests.
College of Zen Buddhist Studies
Entrance into the CZBS College of Zen Buddhist Studies is mainly for individuals currently engaged in a priestly track under a qualified teacher of the Five Mountain Order, and that the applicant has been ordained as Novice Priest before commencing studies. Auditing of classes by other Buddhist Practitioners is permissible and needs to be reviewed on a case by case basis. To apply to the CZBS click on this link.
The College of Zen Buddhist Studies primarily serves to train priests in fundamental Buddhist doctrine, traditional Zen liturgical practice and function, as well as educating priests in a broad spectrum of the essentials of pastoral care from both a priestly and administrative standpoint.
This course of study aims to help priests establish a clear direction for their ordained practice and outreach, whilst developing the knowledge and skill set to be successful in pursuing it. Successful completion of this course of study will fully prepare a priest for service in running their own local Zen center and/or outreach program.
There are two degree programs offered within the College of Zen Buddhist Studies:
- Associates of Buddhist Philosophy (A.Phil) in Zen Buddhist Studies
Novice Priest (HJN) to Zen Priest (SN) - Bachelors of Buddhist Philosophy (B.Phil) in Zen Buddhist Studies
Zen Priest (SN) to Bodhisattva Priest (BSN)
Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education
- Entrance into the CZBS Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education is available only recognized Dharma Holders of the Five Mountain Order.
- This program of study is primarily concerned with the development of advanced Zen Buddhist teaching and administrative skills, through both formal study and practical experience which leads to the development of a Zen teachers telltale experiential insight and wisdom (prajna paramita).
- Successful completion of this course of study will prepare teachers to engage their practice as fully recognized and independent leaders of the maha sangha, and will grant them the ability to lead their own schools, as they see fit.
- It is important to note, that the graduation from the Graduate College of Zen Buddhist Education is not based on academic study alone, but on personal attainment, insight and teaching/leadership ability as recognized by the personal Master of the teacher as is necessary in the practice of Ancestral Zen. As such, the amount of time required for completion and graduation from either of the degree programs offered within this Graduate College may vary greatly among postulant masters.
- Masters of Buddhist Philosophy (M.Phil) in Zen Buddhist Education
Dharma Holder Teacher (BJN) to Inka/Dharma Master Teacher (SBN) - Doctor of Buddhist Philosophy (Ph.D) in Zen Buddhist Education
Inka/Dharma Master Teacher (SBN) to Transmission/Zen Master Teacher (SSN)
