Guiding Teachers

FOUNDER AND PATRIARCH

ZEN MASTER SEUNG SAHN

The founding teacher of our School is Zen Master Seung Sahn, the 78th Patriarch in his line of transmission in the Chogye order of Korean Buddhism. In 1972 he came to the United States and established the Providence Zen Center, the first center in what is now the Kwan Um School of Zen. He and his students have founded over a hundred temples, centers and groups around the world. His books include Ten Gates, The Compass of Zen, Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, Only Don't Know, and The Whole World is a Single Flower -- 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life.

GUIDING TEACHER OF THE ISTHMUS ZEN COMMUNITY

THOM PASTOR, JDPSN

Thom Pastor JDPSN is founder (1994) and abbot of Great Bright Zen Center. He began formal study in the Kwan Um School of Zen in the late 1980s with Zen Master Ji Bong and was given inka on April 6, 2002. In addition to his teaching responsibilities at Great Bright Zen Center, Thom also teaches an Introduction to Zen Buddhism course at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He initiated a Zen meditation program at Federal Prison Nellis five years ago which now claims one of the highest attendance rates of any volunteer program at that facility. A former professional musician who now serves as secretary/treasurer of the Las Vegas Musicians Union, Thom has performed with over 100 recording and show business luminaries. He is married and the father of two children.

FIRST GUIDING TEACHER OF THE ISTHMUS ZEN COMMUNITY

WILLIAM BROWN, JDPSN

William Brown served as the Isthmus Zen Community's Guiding Teacher from 1997 to 2003. During that time, Poep Sa Nim benefited countless students of Zen, selflessly leading meditation retreats, giving teaching interviews, presenting public talks, and cultivating the life of the sangha. Bill's gentleness, openness, and wonderful sense of humor endear him to all who are fortunate enough to know him and encounter his teaching.

SENIOR BODHISATTVA TEACHER AND ABBOT OF THE ISTHMUS ZEN COMMUNITY

DAVE PETERS

Dave Peters is a senior dharma teacher and abbot of the Isthmus Zen Community in Madison, Wisconsin. He has been practicing in the Kwan Um School of Zen since 1997, and became a dharma teacher in 2001. Dave is employed by a large regional, multi-line insurance company, working in product design and legal compliance. Dave and his wife Marilyn live on Madison's east side, and enjoy kayaking, taking walks, and going to the movies.

Guest Teachers

	ABBOT OF THE KWAN UM SCHOOL OF ZEN ZEN MASTER DAE KWANG Zen Master Dae Kwang is the abbot of the Kwan Um School of Zen. He is the guiding teacher of Providence Zen Center in Cumberland, Rhode Island, the head temple of our international School. He is also the teacher for Zen centers in Wisconsin, Ontario, Delaware, and Pennsylvania. Zen Master Dae Kwang travels widely, leading retreats throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. His interests include meditation practices common to Christianity and Buddhism. He was ordained a Zen monk in 1987.
	GUIDING TEACHER OF MU SANG SA, KOREA ZEN MASTER DAE BONG Zen Master Dae Bong, a Zen monk, received dharma transmission in April 1999. He is the guiding teacher of the Kye Ryong Sahn International Zen Center/Mu Sang Sa in Korea. Before practicing Zen, he worked as a counselor for five years and as a welder in a shipyard. He has been practicing with Zen Master Seung Sahn and living in Kwan Um School of Zen centers since 1977. He became a monk in 1984. He has been abbot of Zen centers in the United States and Europe. For the past seven years, he has been living in and teaching throughout Asia.
	GUIDING TEACHER OF THE KANSAS ZEN CENTER JUDY ROITMAN, JDPSN Judy Roitman JDPSN began practicing Zen with Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1976 at the Cambridge Zen Center. She was one of the founders of the Kansas Zen Center in 1978 and received inka (authorization to teach) from Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1998. She is currently the guiding teacher of the Kansas Zen Center.
	FOUNDER OF THE MYUNG WOL (Bright Moon) ZEN CENTER MERRIS FRASER, JDPSN Merrie Fraser JDPSN received inka in April 2000. She has been a student of Zen Master Seung Sahn since 1976 and lived at the Providence Zen Center from 1978 to 1997. During this time she was initially attendant to Zen Master Seung Sahn, helping him with letters and editing when he was in residence. She also served a short time as housemaster, then researched and wrote the Dharma Mirror for use by those who want to start a Zen Center. As sewing master, she created the patterns for the robes and kasas and made a great many of them. In 1997, she moved to Scottsdale, Arizona where she has started the Myung Wol (Bright Moon) Zen Center.
	SECOND GUIDING TEACHER AT THE SU BONG ZEN MONASTERY ANDRZEJ STEC, JDPSN Andrzej Stec JDPSN received a Masters of Architecture at the Gdansk Polytechnic University in his native Poland. He met the late Zen Master Seung Sahn and began practicing Zen in 1981. Thereafter, he became a Zen monk in Korea where he trained for thirteen years. He received inka (permission to teach) from Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1998 and has been teaching in Europe, Asia and the United States ever since. He also served as abbot of the Kwan Um School of Poland and at several Zen centers worldwide. Currently he is the second guiding teacher at the Su Bong Zen Monastery in Hong Kong.
	TIMOTHY LERCH, JDPSN Timothy Lerch JDPSN (Chong Hae Sunim) was ordained a monk in 1996 and received inka from Zen Master Seung Sahn on April 7, 2001. Lerch PSN was the abbot of the Providence Zen Center in Cumberland RI, the head temple of the Kwan Um School of Zen in America from 2000 to 2006, and has trained extensively in the US and Asia. From 1995 to 1999 he was the resident director of the Kwan Um School center in Seattle. Prior to joining the Kwan Um School he trained in the Japanese and Vietnamese Zen traditions. After having trained as a monk for 10 years, Lerch Poep Sa Nim returned to lay life in 2006 and is currently a musician and music teacher living in Seattle.