Father Marco Vinicio Rueda Gomezjurado was a Jesuit priest, philosopher, anthropologist, writer, educator. He was born in Quito, Ecuador on August 12, 1914 and died in the same city on March 13, 2005. Rueda was an exponent of Zen in Ecuador. Rueda’s most notable books are concerned with philosophy, anthropology and Zen.
Education
In 1936, Rueda studied literature under the Jesuit priest Father Aurelio Espinosa Pólit, who is one of Ecuador’s most important writers.
In Paris, Rueda studied anthropology under Claude Lévi-Strauss, later earning a degree in anthropology from the Sorbonne.
Teaching career
Rueda was a professor of Ethnological Theory and Religious Anthropology at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, where he taught for 20 years. He taught courses on religion, philosophical anthropology and psychology of religion. He served as dean of human sciences on three occasions, and also served as vice grand chancellor (1973-1975).
Zen
Along with Dr. Vera Schiller de Kohn, Rueda founded the following Zen-practicing groups at the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador (PUCE), which still exist today:
- Integrated Development Center (CDI) 1975
- “Invisible Monastery” 1976
Rueda studiesd Zen in Paris under the Japanese Sōtō Zen Buddhist Taisen Deshimaru. Dr. Vera Schiller de Kohn studied Zen with the Zen master Karlfried Graf Dürckheim in Germany.
Poetry sample
A poem in Spanish by Marco Vinicio Rueda S.J. from El sendero del zen (1971)
Transparencia
Transparencia es limpidez como el cristal,
que deja pasar luz y calor.
Transparencia es incandescencia como la llama,
que agoniza en su pabilo.
Transparencia es hierro rojo
que brilla y quema como fuego.
Y esto quiero que seas tu con lo divino.
El Ser palpita en toda cosa o vida,
pero está oculto a tus ojos.
Totalmente – otro, se pierde
para nosotros con su inmensidad.
Lo grande no puede contenerlo.
Totalmente – otro, se descubre donde
no lo esperábamos.
Lo pequeño no lo excluye.
Tal vez quiera servirse de ti
para manifestarse a los otros.
Hablará por tus labios.
Mirará por tus ojos.
Obrará por tus manos.
A tu contacto, se sentirán sacudidos
por tu Presencia.
¡Que Él nos haga transparentes
para que brille su Rostro!
Literary works
His books on philosophy, anthropology and Zen include:
- El Sendero del Zen (1971)
- Curso de Meditación Integrada (1982)
- La Fiesta Religiosa Campesina (1982)
- Julio Tobar Donoso, Maestro Universitario (1982)
- Setenta Mitos Shuar (1983)
- Intimidad con el Buen Pastor (1988)
- Mitología (1993)
- Curso Teórico Práctico de Meditación Profunda (1993)
- Los cuatro Pilares (1994)
- Cosmos, Hombre y Sacralidad (1995)
- Gotas de Lluvia (obra pòstuma)
Honors
- Doctor Honoris Causa (honorary doctorate) from the Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador, 1993.
- Medalla al “Mérito Educativo” (“Educative Merit” Medal) from the government of Ecuador, 1993.