Cheri Huber

Cheri Huber, born around 1944, is an American meditation teacher within the Sōtō School of Zen Buddhism. She established the Zen Monastery Peace Center in Murphys, California, in 1993, on land purchased in 1987. Huber, who grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, has stated she studied Zen under Jay DuPont. She founded her initial Zen center in Mountain View, California, in 1983, which later relocated to Palo Alto. In 1997, she created Living Compassion, a nonprofit focused on peace and service. Huber also operates the Four Acre Zen Center in Sequim, Washington. While some within traditional Zen circles have questioned her authorization to teach, Huber herself identifies as a student dedicated to guiding others toward "conscious, compassionate awareness." She has authored numerous books on Zen awareness practices, offered online courses, and hosted a weekly podcast that originated as a radio show.

Cheri Huber is recognized as the founder of several Zen institutions. In 1993, she established the Zen Monastery Peace Center in Murphys, California, on a significant parcel of land acquired in 1987. Prior to this, she initiated her first Zen center in Mountain View, California, in 1983, which eventually moved and became known as the Palo Alto Zen Center. Complementing her work in establishing meditation centers, Huber founded Living Compassion in 1997. This nonprofit organization is dedicated to promoting peace and engaging in service-oriented activities. Her current center, the Four Acre Zen Center (FAZC), is located in Sequim, Washington.

Huber's role as a meditation teacher has drawn attention from within the traditional Zen community. While she states she studied Zen under Jay DuPont, questions have been raised by some members of lineage-based Zen organizations regarding her authority to teach. Author James Ishmael Ford noted that while Huber may have had brief studies with DuPont, her authorization to teach within the Zen tradition is unclear. Huber herself has not claimed formal authorization from any specific lineage, instead describing her path as that of a "student" of Zen committed to assisting others in cultivating "conscious, compassionate awareness."

Beyond her work in establishing centers, Cheri Huber is a prolific author, having written or co-written numerous books that explore Zen awareness practices. Her publications often focus on themes of self-discovery, compassion, and conscious living. In addition to her books, Huber has developed interactive email courses, some of which have formed the basis for her published works. Since 2002, she has also been a regular contributor of a weekly podcast, which began as a call-in radio program, offering further avenues for her teachings to reach a wider audience. Archives of her past radio shows are accessible online.

“considers herself a "student" of Zen who has dedicated her life to helping others learn to live in "conscious, compassionate awareness."”