Not Two: The Appamada Story is the autobiography of a sangha—a Zen community of practice.

There are many Zen books that tell the story of a teacher's awakening or a student's journey. This book tells the colorful story of one contemporary Zen sangha in Austin, Texas—how it came into being, found its form, weathered difficulties, and learned Zen practice together over thirty years.

The first part traces the spiritual formation and formal Zen training of founding teachers Peg Syverson and Flint Sparks, and profiles the pioneering women Zen teachers—Charlotte Joko Beck, Zenkei Blanche Hartman, Jan Chozen Bays—who transmitted the Dharma to them. Through their collaborative vision and creative energy, Appamada took shape as a distinctive model of "relational Zen"—with the conviction that we wake up and grow up together, that Zen's DNA is a double helix of encounter and meditation.

The second part focuses on the Sangha: a unique organizational architecture developed in collaboration with sangha members who saw Appamada's potential and joined its evolution—a revisioning of this profound ancient tradition for contemporary lives. Along the way, the book shares how common dilemmas faced by spiritual communities were creatively resolved. It offers practical guidance on governance, finances, succession, and the training of lay teachers—not as a template, but as one sangha's lived experience.

Lavishly illustrated with photos, sangha reflections, and Zen teachings, this book is written for sangha members, leaders of emerging or established centers, and anyone interested in helping organizations of any kind evolve and thrive. Not Twoembodies our central teaching—appamada, the Buddha's last word: mindful, energetic care.