Gary Artim
I started Zazen and Zen practice at San Francisco Zen Center in 1992. When I moved to the East Bay I found BZC and was lay ordained in 1997 by Sojun Roshi. My wife Emily Douglas and I have lived in El Cerrito for 26+ years. Over time I have taken on various practice positions. You may remember me as the Tenzo, Kitchen Keep, Jikido, Sesshin Director. These position have helped me to embracing the practice and our Sangha members. Seeing new students and watching them become part of the community is a great joy.
My work-a-day career was as a systems and application programmer at various places. I ended my full time work at UC Berkeley working for a genetics researcher. I enjoy travel, swimming, movies, computers, and sesshins, etc.
I think my interest in the practice forms and wanting to sustain our practice will motivate me to be of help on the board. Thanks for your consideration!
Tom Painter
Tom has been a member of the Berkeley Zen Center (BZC) since 2010, and joined the board in 2018. He received lay ordination in 2013 from Sojun Roshi and was given the Dharma name, Sei Do Kai Shin (clear path, open heart). He serves on the Harmony, Ethics, and Reconciliation (HEAR) committee, and is the Saturday Program co-director.
He has worked as a clinical psychologist since 1997, and lives in Berkeley with his wife of 26 years and their son. In addition to providing individual and group psychotherapy, he serves as a union shop steward and clinical supervisor a local mental health clinic.
When Tom is not at home, work, or at BZC, he may be found on his bicycle, walking purposelessly through Tilden Park, or going on the occasional backpacking or camping trip in the Sierra Nevada.
Rondi Saslow
I came to BZC in 1988 after attending a workshop at Tassajara led by Sojun Roshi and Katherine Thanos. Since that time, I have served on a Board Committee, held Practice Positions, functioned as Board Secretary, been Benji to two Shusos, and, currently, serve on the Practice Committee as Member at Large. Professionally, I am a Marriage and Family Therapist and have a small Private Practice. I have served one year on the Board, completing Katy Guimond’s term, and hope to continue to enjoy the challenges of being a Board Member. I live with my husband, Charley, also a BZC practitioner, and our cat, Bogey, who does Zazen all the time.