Meet Fugon Cindy Beach

Cindy began her study of Buddhism in 1965, and practiced meditation on her own until she began her formal Zen practice in 1996. She was Lay-Ordained in 1997 by Taitaku Pat Phelan at The Chapel Hill Zen Center in the Soto Zen lineage of The San Fransisco Zen Center and Shunryu Suzuki Roshi.

Cindy moved to Savannah, GA in 2001, where the UU Church of Savannah welcomed Cindy’s offer to start a meditation group at the church. In 2002, she began hand-sewing zafus and zabutons (meditation cushions and mats) for the Zendo (meditation room), and the group took life. In 2004, she introduced the formal practice of Soto Zen to the then called, Savannah Buddhist Sitting Group. Cindy, then carrying the dharma name, Yugyo Do Myo, led 4 sesshins (retreats), in that time and two more in the past two years led by Taiun Michael Elliston, Abbot of the Atlanta Soto Zen Center, her present Teacher.

In June of 2008, Cindy was ordained onto the Priest Path by the Abbott, and was officially installed as Head Teacher of the newly named Savannah Zen Center. At that time she assisted the Abbot in the Initiation Ceremony of three of her students. Cindy is also student to Seirin Barbara Kohn, Abbess of The Austin Zen Center.

The Savannah Zen Center moved into its permanent home at 111 E. 34^th Street on August 3^rd, 2011. Renovations to the center began promptly, concurrent with daily periods of Zazen (meditation). Landscaping and gardening are ongoing and speak to the beauty of the monastic space.

Rev. Fugon Cindy Beach has completed hand-sewing her Okesa (Buddha’s Robe) and Bowing cloth. She will begin her Ango (required 3 month monastic practice, in Atlanta) when the dust settles. In addition to her role as Head Teacher/Priest, Fugon is also the sewing teacher for 7 of her students who are sewing their Rakusus (small Buddha’s Robe) in preparation for their Lay-Ordination.

Rev. Fugon is a retired psychotherapist, and Certified Life Coach, offering  Inner Balance Coaching; spiritual, relationship and career coaching at Zen Center. A Reiki Master, Cindy offers Reiki sessions and personal or group Attunements at Zen Center, with her Reiki Master colleague, Betsy Freeman.