Zen master to lecture at Spencer Museum of Art in annual visit in March

LAWRENCE -- In what has become a welcome late-winter tradition, Fukushima Keido Roshi returns to the University of Kansas in early March.

At noon Wednesday, March 5, in the Central Court at the Spencer Museum of Art, Roshi will give a short talk and demonstrate his art of ink and brush calligraphy. He will discuss "Zen and Bridge" at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 6, in the Spencer museum auditorium. Both events are free and open to the public.

A Zen master from Kyoto, Japan, Roshi is making his 13th annual visit to Lawrence. As head abbot of the Tofuku-ji (Tofuku Temple), Roshi is the leader of the Tofuku-ji sect of Rinzai Zen and oversees more than 300 Zen temples in Japan. While in Lawrence he will speak to several classes in the departments of East Asian and religious studies and conduct Zen sittings, in addition to his public appearances.

The Zen sittings will be at the Kansas Ki Society, 619 E. Eighth St. A Zazen session for beginners is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. March 5, with an advanced session from 7 to 8:30 a.m. March 6.