Photo Story: a Zen Life

This photoessay covers the life of Zen monk Seido Raymond Ronci, who teaches English Literature at University of Missouri-Columbia (MU). In addition, he teaches Zen mediation to students of the MU Buddhist Association. These pictures are taken between March 17 to April 30, 2010, as part of the final project for the class Fundamentals of Photojournalism, at the Missouri School of Journalism.

Seido rests in his office after a long day of conferences with students from his English classes. He balances his life as a Zen Monk and an associate English professor.


At his weekly talk about Zen practice for the MU Buddhist Association at the Memorial Union every Wednesday.

Seido's talks can be very animated as he talks about his diverse life experiences and how Zen has brought him peace.

Seido walks MU's iconic pillars with one of his students on March 17. He has been teaching at MU for the past 11 years.

Seido at his teaching office in MU. He reads a wide variety of books, including Eastern philosophies like Taoism which he says has alot in common with Buddhism.

As an English associate professor, Seido reads a poem at a post-modern American literature class. He writes many poems himself.

One of the awards Seido has won was the 2009 Penn Poetry award on the right, which he displays in his office next to a radio given by his brother.

With a cigaratte and drink Seido relaxes in his living room after a Zen mediation session.

Seido decorates his entire house with paintings he made over summer. At night, he switches the lights on and jokes that "it's not Christmas!"