# Clark Strand

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**Clark Strand** (born August 14, 1957)[1][2][3] is an American author and teacher on spirituality and religion. A former [Zen](/source/Zen) [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism) [monk](/source/Monk), he was the first Senior Editor of *[Tricycle: The Buddhist Review](/source/Tricycle:_The_Buddhist_Review)*. He left that position in 1996 and moved to [Woodstock, New York](/source/Woodstock,_New_York), to write and teach full-time.

He is also a poet and has written two books that feature or include his poetry.

## Early life and education

Strand was born in 1957,[1] and grew up in Arkansas[4] and Alabama.[5] The family moved to Atlanta in 1971,[6] and Strand graduated from the [Lovett School](/source/Lovett_School) in 1975.[7]

Strand was raised as a [Southern Presbyterian](/source/Presbyterian_Church_in_the_United_States),[8] and converted to [Buddhism](/source/Buddhism) in the 1970s.[9] He studied philosophy and religion at [Sewanee: The University of the South](/source/Sewanee:_The_University_of_the_South) in Sewanee, Tennessee,[10] graduating in 1980.[11]

## Career

Strand began his post-university career as a [Zen](/source/Zen) [Buddhist](/source/Buddhism) [monk](/source/Monk).[12] In 1988, he left the [Dai Bosatsu Zendo](/source/Dai_Bosatsu_Zendo), a [Rinzai](/source/Rinzai) Zen Buddhist monastery in upstate New York[13][11] and became the director of [New York Zendo](/source/New_York_Zendo), a Rinzai Zen Buddhist temple in New York City.[11] In 1990 he resigned from New York Zendo[14][15] and ceased being a Buddhist monk.[16]

Following a few years of psychoanalysis, he became the first senior editor of *[Tricycle: The Buddhist Review](/source/Tricycle:_The_Buddhist_Review)* in 1993.[17][18] He also continued his decades-long exploration of the spiritual traditions of the world in search of a more spiritually-evolved version of religion that was compatible with modern life; the journey took him inside of numerous communities including Buddhist temples, Hasidic synagogues, Christian monasteries, and Hindu cults.[17][16][19] This eventually led to his books *Meditation Without Gurus* (2003) and *How to Believe in God: Whether You Believe in Religion or Not* (2009).[17]

In 1996, Strand left his position as senior editor of *Tricycle: The Buddhist Review*, and moved to [Woodstock, New York](/source/Woodstock,_New_York) to write and teach full time.[18][20][21]

In January 2000, Strand founded the [Koans](/source/Koan) of the Bible Study Group (since renamed Woodstock Buddhist Bible Study), a weekly inter-religious discussion group devoted to finding a new paradigm for religious belief and practice.[16] He also founded the Green Meditation Society in Woodstock, which promotes an ecologically-based approach to spiritual practice, drawing upon the environmental teachings of the world's great religious traditions.[22]

In the early 2000s, he began exploring [Soka Gakkai International](/source/Soka_Gakkai_International), which originated from [Soka Gakkai](/source/Soka_Gakkai) [Japan](/source/Japan), a humanistic religion based on the teachings of the 13th-century Japanese monk, [Nichiren](/source/Nichiren), who lived in [Kamakura period](/source/Kamakura_period). This led him to write *Waking the Buddha: How the Most Dynamic and Empowering Buddhist Movement in History Is Changing Our Concept of Religion* (2014).[23]

Strand has written additional books on spirituality, as well as articles on a variety of religious, spiritual, and ecological themes. He writes for *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*,[24] *[The Huffington Post](/source/The_Huffington_Post)*, *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, *[Newsweek](/source/Newsweek)’s* On Faith blog, *Tricycle,* *Body & Soul*, *Spirituality & Health*, and several other publications.[25][26][27]

He also lectures and teaches classes, workshops, and retreats.[17] In May 2015, he participated in the First [White House](/source/White_House) U.S. Buddhist Leaders Conference.[28]

Strand is also a poet,[29] and has written two books that feature or include his poetry: *Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey* (1997), and *Now is the Hour of Her Return: Poems in Praise of the Divine Mother Kali* (2022). He also teaches classes and workshops in writing haiku.[30]

## Personal life

Strand lives in [Woodstock, New York](/source/Woodstock,_New_York).[21] He and his wife, author Perdita Finn,[31] are co-founders of The Way of the Rose, a non-sectarian rosary fellowship that welcomes people of all faiths and spiritual backgrounds.[32][33]

## Bibliography

1997 Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey ISBN 978-0-7868-6242-9 1998 The Wooden Bowl: Simple Meditations for Everyday Life ISBN 978-0-7868-6286-3 2003 Meditation Without Gurus: A Guide to the Heart of the Practice ISBN 978-1-893361-93-5 2009 How to Believe in God: Whether You Believe in Religion or Not ISBN 978-0-7679-2069-8 2014 Waking the Buddha: How the Most Dynamic and Empowering Buddhist Movement in History Is Changing Our Concept of Religion[34] ISBN 978-0977924561 2015 Waking up to the Dark: Ancient Wisdom for a Sleepless Age[35][36] ISBN 978-0-8129-9772-9 2019 The Way of the Rose: The Radical Path of the Divine Feminine Hidden in the Rosary (with Perdita Finn) ISBN 978-0812988956 2022 Now is the Hour of Her Return: Poems in Praise of the Divine Mother Kali ISBN 9781948626750

## References

1. Finn, Perdita (2023). *Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World*. [Running Press](/source/Running_Press). p. 212. ISBN 9780762482528.

1. ["Clark W Strand from Woodstock, NY"](https://nuwber.com/person/563a9d36cf00835c7f2e3d36). *Nuwber*. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. Strand, Clark (August 15, 2024). ["Thanks so much for my happy birthday wishes, everyone! It was a wonderful day!"](https://www.facebook.com/clarkstrand/posts/pfbid024a37EKvcqXyYkJKUe7SdiTJMdgfAVuTiYZZ5FAYgb8yVTFodLQ6GJWKLEeFRQnDrl). *[Facebook](/source/Facebook)*. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. Conner, Janet (December 5, 2019). ["Praying at the speed of Love, Episode 19: The Way of the Rose Part 1"](https://mainbucketdgandco.s3.amazonaws.com/pdfs/PSL+Podcast/PSL_Podcast_-_Episode_19_Transcript+FINAL.pdf). *mainbucketdgandco*. Retrieved July 14, 2024.

1. Strand, Clark (January–February 2023). ["Wake Up to the Dark"](https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/waking-up-to-the-dark). *Spirituality & Health*. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

1. Nola, Meg (September 23, 2022). ["Reviewer Meg Nola Interviews Clark Strand, Author of *Waking Up to the Dark: The Black Madonna's Gospel for an Age of Extinction and Collapse*"](https://www.forewordreviews.com/articles/article/reviewer-meg-nola-interviews-clark-strand-author-of-waking-up-to-the-dark-the-black-madonnas-gospel-for-an-age-of-extinction-and-collapse/). *ForewordReviews.com*. Retrieved July 9, 2024.

1. ["Dr. Allan Strand Jr. (1930-2022)"](https://issuu.com/thelovettschool/docs/lvt-magazine-fall-winter_2022-final_082f9c3e598eb7/91). *The Lovett School*. Fall–Winter 2022. p. 91.

1. ["Author Clark Strand"](http://wakingthebuddha.org/about-the-author/). *WakingtheBuddha.com*. Retrieved July 13, 2024.

1. Laidlaw, Stuart (October 28, 2007). ["Awaiting the Dalai Lama"](https://www.thestar.com/life/awaiting-the-dalai-lama/article_57440bfd-4bcd-5a7b-ab66-9d3616fb9cf0.html). *[Toronto Star](/source/Toronto_Star)*. Retrieved September 5, 2024.

1. ["How is Christ Our King In 2012?"](https://www.cathedralatl.org/sermons/how-is-christ-our-king-in-2012/). *CathedralATL.org*. November 25, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

1. ["College Class Notes"](https://dspace.sewanee.edu/server/api/core/bitstreams/9cd11dd0-89e9-4229-a8ee-bab67f365ca7/content). *The Sewanee News*. Vol. 54, no. 3. December 1988. p. 23. Retrieved August 13, 2024.

1. Strand, Clark (May 29, 2014). ["A Zen Master's Guide to the Bible"](https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2014/05/29/zen-masters-guide-bible2). *Spirituality & Health*. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. Strand, Clark (2023). [*Seeds from a Birch Tree: Writing Haiku and the Spiritual Journey: 25th Anniversary Edition: Revised & Expanded*](https://books.google.com/books?id=rSekEAAAQBAJ&pg=PT40). Monkfish Book Publishing. ISBN 9781948626866.

1. ["The Zen Studies Society Annual Meeting of the Board of Trustees"](https://www.shimanoarchive.com/PDFs/19900116_ZSS_Board.pdf). *ShimanoArchive.com*. January 16, 1990. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. ["Minutes of ZSS Board of Trustees Meeting"](https://www.shimanoarchive.com/9index.html). *ShimanoArchive.com*. March 31, 1990. Retrieved August 21, 2024. 'Eido Roshi (嶋野 栄道) announced that Clark Strand had resigned as resident monk of New York Zendo....'

1. Guy, David (September 2, 2015). ["Get Back, Jo Jo"](https://davidguy.org/2015/09/02/get-back-jo-jo/). *DavidGuy.org*. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. ["Author Clark Strand"](http://wakingthebuddha.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/SRY_Author_bio.pdf). *WakingTheBuddha.org*. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. ["Reading Series – An Intimate Evening with Clark Strand"](https://villagezendo.org/events/reading-series-an-intimate-evening-with-clark-strand/). *Village Zendo*. October 14, 2021. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. Strand, Clark (2009). [*How to Believe in God: Whether You Believe in Religion or Not*](https://books.google.com/books?id=C_mTgVkT-OMC&pg=PA3). Harmony/Rodale. pp. 3–4. ISBN 9780385529525.

1. Jeffers, Steven L.; Nelson, Michael E.; Barnet, Vern; Brannigan, Michael C. (2019). ["The Essential Guide to Religious Traditions and Spirituality for Health Care Providers"](https://api.pageplace.de/preview/DT0400.9781910227749_A37994684/preview-9781910227749_A37994684.pdf). *api.pageplace.de*. [CRC Press](/source/CRC_Press). pp. xxvi-xxvii. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. ["Clark Strand's life and work"](http://www.worldwisdom.com/public/authors/Clark-Strand.aspx). *World Wisdom*. Retrieved June 21, 2024.

1. ["Author Clark Strand to Speak on 'The 12 Steps of Ecological Recovery' at Judson Church"](http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUS119564%2B31-Jan-2011%2BMW20110131?irpc=932). *[Reuters](/source/Reuters)*. Market Wire. January 31, 2011. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150518085443/http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUS119564+31-Jan-2011+MW20110131?irpc=932) May 18, 2015 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Mowe, Sam (April 27, 2014). ["Q&A: Clark Strand, Author of Waking the Buddha"](https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2014/04/27/qa-clark-strand). *Spirituality & Health*. Retrieved May 16, 2015.

1. Strand, Clark (May 19, 2015). ["Want to enjoy the deep, mystical sleep of our ancestors? Turn your lights off at dusk."](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2015/05/19/want-to-experience-the-deep-mystical-sleep-of-our-ancestors-turn-your-lights-off-at-dusk/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. Retrieved August 25, 2015.

1. Strand, Clark (Spring 2010). ["Turn Out the Lights"](http://www.tricycle.com/feature/turn-out-lights). *[Tricycle: The Buddhist Review](/source/Tricycle:_The_Buddhist_Review)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20100306012349/http://www.tricycle.com/feature/turn-out-lights?page=0,3) March 6, 2010 at the Wayback Machine.

1. Strand, Clark (May 1, 2014). ["How the Nones Are Coming of Age"](http://www.huffpost.com/entry/nones-are-coming-of-age_b_5246746). *[Huffington Post](/source/Huffington_Post)*. Retrieved May 14, 2015.

1. Strand, Clark (December 19, 2014). ["Bring On the Dark"](https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/20/opinion/why-we-need-the-winter-solstice.html). *The New York Times*. Retrieved May 15, 2015.

1. Boorstein, Michelle (May 12, 2015). ["A political awakening for Buddhists? 125 U.S. Buddhist leaders to meet at the White House."](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/acts-of-faith/wp/2015/05/12/125-u-s-buddhist-leaders-to-meet-at-the-white-house/). *[The Washington Post](/source/The_Washington_Post)*. Retrieved May 15, 2015.

1. ["Clark Strand: A Deeper Connection with Everything Through Haiku"](https://themeaningfullife.podbean.com/e/clark-strand-podcast/). *The Meaningful Life with Andrew G. Marshall*. Podbean. July 31, 2023. Retrieved August 21, 2024.

1. ["Clark Strand"](https://tricycle.org/author/clarkstrand/). *[Tricycle: The Buddhist Review](/source/Tricycle:_The_Buddhist_Review)*. Retrieved August 24, 2024.

1. Matousek, Mark (November 5, 2019). ["Virgin Encounters: What to Do With an Apparition?"](https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-seekers-forum/201911/virgin-encounters-what-do-apparition). *[Psychology Today](/source/Psychology_Today)*. Retrieved June 21, 2024.

1. ["Clark Strand"](https://kripalu.org/presenters-programs/presenters/clark-strand). *[Kripalu](/source/Kripalu)*. Retrieved June 21, 2024.

1. Peters, Julie (December 17, 2019). ["The Way of the Rose"](https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/articles/2019/12/17/the-way-of-the-rose). *Spirituality & Health*. [Unity Church](/source/Unity_Church). Retrieved June 21, 2024.

1. Strand, Clark (January 2014). ["From the Muddy Pond"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150518091423/http://www.sgiquarterly.org/feature2014jan-4.html). *SGI Quarterly*. Archived from [the original](http://www.sgiquarterly.org/feature2014jan-4.html) on May 18, 2015.

1. Matousek, Mark (May 11, 2015). ["Waking Up To the Dark: Ancient Wisdom for a Sleepless Age"](https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/ethical-wisdom/201505/waking-up-to-the-dark-ancient-wisdom-for-a-sleepless-age). *[Psychology Today](/source/Psychology_Today)*. Retrieved May 15, 2015.

1. ["Waking up to the Dark: Ancient Wisdom for a Sleepless Age"](https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/clark-strand/waking-up-to-the-dark/). *[Kirkus Reviews](/source/Kirkus_Reviews)*. January 14, 2015. Retrieved May 15, 2015.

## External links

- [The Way of the Rose](https://wayoftherose.org/) – Official website
- [575 Syllables](https://575syllables.com/) – Official website

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Clark Strand](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Strand) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clark_Strand?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.