Zen in America: Profiles of Five Teachers: Robert Aitken, Jakusho Kwong, Bernard Glassman, Maurine Stuart, Richard Baker

On American soil, Zen Buddhism has proven to be a hardy, adaptable plant, as reflected in these luminous yet critical profiles of five American-born Zen masters. Radical pacifist Robert Aitken of Honolulu applies Buddhist thinking to ecological and political problems. For Bernard Glassman, who teaches at the Zen Community of New York, there is no contradiction between Zen and the business of running a bakery. Herself a Zen disciple, Tworkov is attuned to the varied ways these teachers teach. Former concert pianist Maurine Stuart implores her meditation pupils not to sacrifice spontaneity on the altar of obedience to rules. For Jakusho Kwong, Zen practice in America requires confusion, change, even despair. By far the most turbulent chapter spotlights Richard Baker, who resigned from the San Francisco Zen Center in 1983 amid charges of adultery and abuse of power, and is now a roshi (teacher) in Santa Fe, N.M. Photos. (Sept.)