Beach Plum Zen
Welcome!
Beach Plum Zen offers opportunities to explore how we might develop some ease and freedom in our personal lives, communities, and the world.
We consider Buddhist insights on cultivating awareness, broadening perspectives, and acting with care—and we practice applying these insights in ways that are relevant to daily life.
Summer 2025
Martha’s Vineyard
Plans are forthcoming.
Please check back in June.
Gansho
Clark Hanjian
Beach Plum Zen is led by Gansho Clark Hanjian. Clark is a Buddhist chaplain, an ordained novice priest, and an Associate Member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association. He practices with the Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community (Middlebury, VT) in the North American Zen lineage passing through Taizan Maezumi, to Bernie Glassman, to Joan Halifax, to Joshin Byrnes. Clark also serves as a chaplain at the Dukes County Jail and is the liaison between the jail and the Island Clergy Association.
Clark received his BA in Philosophy & Religion from Lycoming College, performed graduate studies at Wesley Theological Seminary, and received a graduate certificate in Conflict Resolution and Mediation from Columbia University. Clark is also a graduate of the Buddhist Chaplaincy Training Program at Upaya Zen Center. He previously worked as a conflict mediator, and he occasionally writes on nonviolence and the inner life.
Verses for
Daily Practice
Here is a collection of contemporary and traditional verses
to support daily practice.
Begging &
Generosity
In the Buddhist tradition, the practices of begging and generosity play important roles in the life of the community. Not only do these practices serve as ways to provide for expenses and livelihood, but they cultivate insight into humility, uncertainty, interdependence, and lovingkindness.
Beach Plum Zen opportunities are offered freely, with no charge to anyone. If you would like to help sustain this work, including Clark's presence as a chaplain at the local jail, a gift of any amount is always welcomed.
Stay Connected
To receive an occasional email about Beach Plum Zen activities, please subscribe here.
To contact Clark, or to offer a gift of support, please see the Contact page.
If you are interested in a wider range of learning and practice opportunities in the style of Community Zen, please ask Clark about Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community, or visit the BLMZC website.