History

    The Two Rivers Zen Center in Missoula, MT is run by Gus Adams. Beginning his practice of Zen Buddhism in the 1970s while in Japan, Adams became actively involved in American Buddhist communities where ever he was living. He spent much time in Albuquerque, New Mexico where he formulated the idea for a Zen center in his home town of Missoula, MT. Coming home to Missoula, Adams wanted to establish a traditional Zen center, similar to the ones he practiced at in Japan and New Mexico. Originally a group of Zen Buddhists from Missoula held weekly meetings and meditation sessions in the homes of the practitioners. These zendo or "sitting meditation" sessions began in 1987 but after a few years became disbanded. Despite this break up, there remained a core group of twenty-five practitioners. They joined Adams in 1999 to begin a new more focused center and created the Two Rivers Zen Center. By the end of the year, the Center moved into a separate building and began expanding its programs. A series of classes began in the fall of 2000. The classes on meditation and Zen Buddhist teachings are open to all and run for a full year. According to Adams, the attendance at these classes varies from about ten to sixty people. The center also runs a very successful weekend retreat program and twice yearly there is a weeklong retreat. These retreats offer time away from everyday life where the students and practitioners are able to concentrate on their practice and zendo group meditation.

Two Rivers Community

Adams notes that the composition of the Two Rivers community has changed over recent years. Until a few years ago, members where mostly highly educated Missoula residents in their forties or fifties. Now the community is very diverse and contains many college students and professors from the University of Montana; the age range is now from about twenty to sixty. The Two Rivers Zen Center is a registered non-profit in Montana. Although Gus Adams appears to be the backbone of the center, he reports to a board of directors. The center also supports a full time office that organizes the events and retreats, and ties the Two Rivers community together. The office will also be responsible for the upkeep of the Two Rivers Zen Center's new Internet business. The Center will run a website that will sell products related to Buddhism and Zen practice such as books and meditation cushions as well some more novelty items. Adams explains that the business is designed to help fund the Center and will also make learning about Buddhism available to everyone. The Two Rivers Zen Center is part of a growing American Buddhist community in Missoula, Montana.