About Us
Day Star Zendo came about through the efforts of Fr. Kevin Hunt, Roshi and Cynthia Taberner, Roshi. Fr. Kevin was the residing priest for the sisters at Mt. St. Mary's in Wrentham. He has since retired and is residing at the Trappist monastery in Spencer, MA. Cynthia, Roshi, has also retired from Day Star Zendo after 10 years of guiding the development of the Sangha. Sadly, Cynthia passed away on October 25, 2024 after a long illness. And because of the kindness of the sisters, they let Day Star Zendo continue to use the basement of their McMahon Retreat House as a zendo when we meet in person.
Since Covid-19 we are a "hybrid" Sangha, sitting and online once a month at the Retreat House. We are also online every morning at 8:00 AM Eastern Time except on Saturdays when we have a book discussion or Zazenkai, and once a week on Wednesday nights at 6:30 Eastern. The daily sits are about a half hour. The Wednesday night sits will usually include a teisho (talk) by a teacher. Plus, we also have a monthly Book Discussion. Please email us at info@daystarzendo.org if you would to join us for any or all of the above.
Fr. Kevin Jiun Hunt, OCSO, Roshi
Fr. Kevin Jiun Hunt, O.C.S.O., Roshi,is also a Catholic priest and a Trappist monk of over fifty years. Certified as a Zen teacher after more than thirty years of practice by Robert Jinsen Kennedy, S.J., Roshi, a Jesuit priest and Zen teacher. He is currently retired and residing at St. Joseph's Abbey in Spencer, MA.
Cynthia Kin Ryu Taberner, Roshi
Cynthia Kin Ryu Taberner, Roshi, received Dharma Transmission on July 15, 2017 from her teacher, Kevin Jiun Hunt, OCSO, Roshi. Fr. Kevin was a student of Robert Jinsen Kennedy, SJ, Roshi, a Jesuit priest and Zen teacher. They are part of the White Plum lineage created by Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi and Tetsugen Bernard Glassman. Kin Ryu’s ceremony was witnessed by Roshi Eve Myonen Marko, Sensei Tim Butler, and Jose Ramirez, JDPSN. Sensei was Fr. Kevin’s first Dharma Heir. Kin Ryu received the Precepts at her Jukai ceremony in 2010. In July of 2020 she became a Roshi. She was first introduced to meditation in the 1980s at the Center for Mindfulness in Worcester, Ma. She continued to take classes and practice vipassana for many years until she was introduced to Zen meditation. She then sat at a Zen Temple until finding her teacher at the Spencer Trappist Abbey. She has since retired after many years serving Day Star Zendo. Sadly Cynthia, Roshi recently passed away after a long illness on October 25, 2024.
"This body is not me.
I am not limited by this body.
I am life without boundaries.
I have never been born,
and I have never died." Thich Nhat Hanh
Sr. Madeleine Seikai Tacy, OP, Sensei
Sr. Madeleine Seikai Tacy, OP, Sensei, began practice in 1972 at a house of prayer in Round Lake, NY. She was a solo practioner until 1998 when she spent two months training at Zen Mountain Monastery with Daido Roshi. In 2000 she began training with Fr. Kevin Hunt, OCSO, Roshi, and received from him transmission on September 26, 2018. Sister is a Dominican Sister of Hope and has a D.Min in Psychology.
Chris Joshin Eggemeier, Sensei
Chris Joshin Eggemeier, Sensei, is a 6th grade teacher in Amherst, Massachusetts where he lives with his wife, children, and dogs. He has practiced Zen for over 15 years and on August 31, 2024 received teaching authority from Cynthia Kin Ryu Taberner, Roshi, in a Denbo Ceremony.