Dr. Ruben L.F. Habito

Dr. Ruben Habito is the Founding Teacher of the Maria Kannon Zen Center and is a Professor of World Religions and Spirituality and Director of Spiritual Formation at Southern Methodist University’s School of Theology. Habito was born in the Philippines, joined the Jesuits in his native country in 1964, and was sent to Japan in 1970 to help in the work of the Catholic Church there. Upon the suggestion of his Jesuit spiritual director, Fr. Thomas Hand, SJ, he began practicing Zen under Yamada Kōun Rōshi in 1971, and completed the koan curriculum training in 1988. He was formally authorized as Zen Teacher in that same year, and was given the Zen title Keiun-ken (Grace-Cloud Lineage). He came to Dallas in 1989, having left the Jesuits, and was invited to take up a teaching position at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University. More details of Habito’s journey with the MKZC are available here.

Habito’s academic education includes a Doctor of Letters Certificate, Tokyo University; S.T.L., Sophia University, 1978; M.Lit., Tokyo University, 1975; B.A., Ateneo de Manila University, 1969. His teaching specialties are World religions, East Asian Buddhism, theology of religions and comparative theology, interreligious perspectives in spirituality and mysticism. His research interests include Japanese medieval Buddhism, themes in comparative theology, spirituality and socio-ecological engagement. Some of his publications include Zen and the Spiritual Exercises: Paths of Awakening and Transformation, The Gospel Among Religions: ChristianMinistry, Theology and Spirituality in a Multireligious World, and Healing Breath: Zen for Buddhists and Christians in a Wounded World. For details of these publications and other professional distinctions, please visit SMU’s website here.