Founding Teacher
Eran Junryu Vardi Roshi
Eran Junryu Vardi Roshi began his physical-spiritual exploration as a young teenager, reading Zen literature, studying Yoga, meditation and Judo. After finishing service in the Israeli military, he traveled extensively throughout the world and lived in different countries, where he was exposed to various cultures and traditions, including classical Buddhism and Zen in Korea, the Philippines, and Thailand, where he had the opportunity to stay at a Buddhist monastery as a lay person. These spiritual and social experiences, and his innate passion for movement, led Junryu to search for an art form which integrates eastern philosophy and embodiment.
In 1989, he was introduced to the martial art of Aikido as a path of Zen-in- motion, and embarked on a lifelong journey. Junryu’s study of Aikido has always been focused on the cultivation of awareness in everyday life, and the practice of presence. In 1997, he founded Aikido of Ramapo Valley and has been teaching the art of Aikido with a strong integration of regular Zazen practice, which organically developed into the establishment of Eiryu-ji Zen Center.
Over the years Junryu’s Zen training intensified, leading to full priesthood and formal completion. He is a Dharma successor of Roshi Paul Genki Kahn, and an empowered Zen Master (Roshi). Junryu Roshi currently holds the rank of 6th degree black belt, and is a senior instructor under the United States Aikido Federation. Junryu’s teaching style is rooted in an embodied understanding of flow integration in a gapless reality.
He is married to Rev. Yvonne Myogen Vardi, and the father of three children.
Priest and Dharma Holder
Reverend Yvonne Myogen Vardi
Reverend Yvonne Myogen Vardi has always been a spiritual seeker. As a Buddhist with Catholic roots, she tries to incorporate the messages of teachers of all faiths and walks of life into her practice. At the root of every religion, there is a message of peace and a way to reflect inwardly in order to discover the master within.This inherent need for uncomplicated, accepting, and compassionate spiritual practice is what led her to begin training with Roshi Eran Junryu Vardi.
She began her training as an aikido practitioner at Aikido of Ramapo Valley, where there was at the time a consistent weekly meditation practice. As she continued down the Buddhist path, she began to deepen her practice and took Jukai formally in 2010, committing herself to precept practice. As Junryu Roshi intensified the practice at the dojo, she intensified her practice simultaneously by training as a Zen Buddhist Priest, studying ceremonies and traditions in Roshi Junryu’s lineage in the White Plum Asanga. In September of 2012, she was ordained as a Zen Buddhist Priest in the then newly-founded Eiryu-ji Zen Center.
She is involved in maintaining and supporting the Eiryu-ji Sangha, assisting in scheduling, planning, and executing events such as intensified practice periods, ceremonies, and various other activities. Reverend Myogen is also a Dharma Holder, or assistant teacher in the lineage.
Through the practice of Zen, she was able to develop an even deeper understanding of her original Catholic practice, and has found a way to merge her understanding of Christianity with her Buddhist practice by cultivating meditation practice and compassionate action.
In addition to her deep involvement at Eiryu-ji, she has a career as a special education teacher in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, where she teaches students in a self-contained class with varying degrees of different abilities. She deeply enjoys her work as a teacher and loves being of service to others.
Priest and Dharma Holder
Reverend Ricardo Mitsugen Petroni
Rev. Ricardo Daikyo Petroni moved from Argentina to the United States in 2007 with his wife Maria José and 3 kids. In 2009 he started aikido at Aikido of Ramapo Valley where he was introduced to zazen practice. Up to this point, his search for meaning involved mostly philosophy and some catholic background. But zazen practice and discussions with Genki Roshi, Genmitsu Roshi, and Junryu Roshi opened up his interest in Zen practice, which he found as a more direct approach to spirituality. He took the Zen vows (Jukai) in 2011 and continued to study Zen under Junryu Roshi’s guidance. Daikyo received Denkai (Full ordination) in 2019, and Hoshi (Dharma Holder) in 2022.
Head Priest and Dharma Holder
Reverend Alexander Kōjin Biagioli
Rev. Alexander Kōjin Biagioli began his spiritual journey as a young man practicing in the traditions of the Cristian Mystics. In 2002 he completed the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola, a 30-day retreat of Christian Contemplation. This profound experience prompted him to explore meditation more deeply and he began sitting meditation regularly, alone and on Jesuit Retreat. In 2011 he met his first Zen Teacher, Roshi Paul Genki Kahn, and began practicing Zen.
In 2014 he joined the Zen Garland Sangha and later received Jukai (the Buddhist Precepts) from Genki Roshi and the Dharma name Daibō (Great Wave). In 2018, he joined the Eiryu-Ji Sangha and became a disciple of Roshi Eran Junryu Vardi. He received Denkai (Soto Zen Priest Ordination) from Junryu Roshi and the ordination name Kōjin (Vast Compassion).
Kōjin holds the Master rank of Sadan in Tae Kwon Do from Grand Master T.H. Kim and is studying Mugai Ryu Iaido with Luciano Gabriel Morgenstern Shinryu Sensei. Throughout his journey, Kōjin has always coupled his Zen practice with a robust Martial Arts practice.
Kōjin is married to Kimberly Ruane Biagioli and is the father of three children.
Dharma Holder
John Reizan Peterman
John Reizan Peterman is a retired philosophy professor. He had a thirty-seven-year long career at William Paterson University.
Reizan began meditating in the 1970s with the Vipassana teacher, Dhiravamsa, at various retreats in New England. His curiosity about Buddhism and meditation continued for many years, leading him to enter formal Zen practice in 2005, when he joined the Zen Garland Sangha and begun studying under Roshi Paul Genki Kahn. In 2006 Reizan took Jukai, and in 2013 he became a Dharma Holder. Upon the relocation of Zen Garland in 2018, Reizan joined the Eiryu-ji Sangha and continued his studies under the direction of Roshi Junryu. He is currently engaged with all Sangha activities and occasionally offers a Dharma talk.
Reizan is married to Seigyoku, who is also a long-time practitioner at Eiryu-ji. He enjoys nature through hiking and cross-country skiing, connecting with his physical being through various embodiment activities, and furthering his philosophy exploration. He finds these three aspects of expression to be conducive for the deepening of his Zen practice, devoting it for the benefit of all.
Priest
Reverend Erika Enkai Houle
Rev. Erika Enkai Houle's journey into Zen practice was a gradual process. Growing up in many places, mostly Texas, her childhood exposure to Buddhism was rather light. Her first memorable encounter with Buddhism was via academic study when she took a couple electives on Buddhism and religions of India in college. In 2012 Enkai traveled to Taiwan with her partner Tairyu to visit a Zen monk's tea school. There she experienced Zen and tea practices as a guest.
Over the years Enkai made efforts to meditate on her own with varying degrees of regularity. Then in 2018 she learned Metta practice and zazen at a ten day class at the tea school in Taiwan. Inspired to study tea ceremony intensively, Enkai began meditating daily as part of her tea practice.
Seeking a community and teacher, Enkai and her partner met Junryu Roshi through the Zen Studies Society in 2019. Shortly thereafter she joined the Eiryu-ji Sangha and received Jukai in 2020. In fall of 2021 she participated in a residential Kessei training at Dai Bosatsu Zendo. And in March 2023 she had her Tokudo ceremony to become a novice priest.
Enkai is married to Tairyu, another Eiryu-ji Sangha member. She is a filmmaker and educator. She loves nature, cooking, photography, and serving tea.