Five Mountain Zen Order - Clergy
Bodhisattva Monk
Rev. Paul Domyong Sireci (SN: Bodhisattva Monk)
Rev. Paul Domyong Sireci, LMSW, MA, has been studying and practicing Buddhism in earnest since 1996. Much of that time has been devoted to studying and practicing within the Tibetan Nyingma and Drikung Kagyu traditions under the guidance of Tulku Nyima Gyaltsen Rinpoche, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and others. In more recent years, Rev. Domyong has taken up studying and practicing Theravada traditions and Zen.
He is grateful to have connected with the Five Mountain Zen Order and Ven. Paul Yuanzhi Lynch, with whom he is engaged in ongoing kong'an work and a deepening of his Zen practice. Ven. Domyong has a great love for his daily meditation practices and for retreat practice. They keep him happy and sane (-ish)!
Rev. Domyong lives in Brooklyn and is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of New York, where he specializes in working with young people who have experienced trauma. Paul is especially interested in the integration of Attachment Theory and recent advances in affective neuroscience into psychotherapy and other brain/body-based approaches to healing. He also partners with organizations to do social justice work in various capacities, particularly for and with queer youth of color.
In his sparse free time, Rev. Domyong can be found digging away in the garden or hovering over a cup of tea. You can follow his blog at Don't Make Anything.
Rev. Paul Domyong Sireci, LMSW, MA, has been studying and practicing Buddhism in earnest since 1996. Much of that time has been devoted to studying and practicing within the Tibetan Nyingma and Drikung Kagyu traditions under the guidance of Tulku Nyima Gyaltsen Rinpoche, H.E. Garchen Rinpoche and others. In more recent years, Rev. Domyong has taken up studying and practicing Theravada traditions and Zen.
He is grateful to have connected with the Five Mountain Zen Order and Ven. Paul Yuanzhi Lynch, with whom he is engaged in ongoing kong'an work and a deepening of his Zen practice. Ven. Domyong has a great love for his daily meditation practices and for retreat practice. They keep him happy and sane (-ish)!
Rev. Domyong lives in Brooklyn and is a licensed clinical social worker in the state of New York, where he specializes in working with young people who have experienced trauma. Paul is especially interested in the integration of Attachment Theory and recent advances in affective neuroscience into psychotherapy and other brain/body-based approaches to healing. He also partners with organizations to do social justice work in various capacities, particularly for and with queer youth of color.
In his sparse free time, Rev. Domyong can be found digging away in the garden or hovering over a cup of tea. You can follow his blog at Don't Make Anything.
Rev. Chasayk (SN: Bodhisattva Monk)
Rev. Chasayk was ordained Novice Monk in the Five Mountain Order on September 3, 2011, and Bodhisattva Monk on November 3, 2012.
Boepsanim also came to Zen through P'arang Geri Larkin, former Guiding Teacher at Still Point Zen Buddhist Temple, where she took Precepts in May of 2004 and received the Buddhist name Chasayk. She and her husband, Charama, founded and are Abbots of Only Love Zen Sitting Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Rev. Chasayk is an avid outdoor person who'd rather ride a bike than an office chair any day. So, she loves to ski, run, hike, and garden. (She also spearheads the Spring and Fall neighborhood trash pick-up efforts.) When she's not baking flowerless chocolate cake or arranging flowers just so, you can find her standing outside humming John Denver's song, "Sunshine On My Shoulders."
She has a mile-wide smile, a near photographic memory (which came in handy when she earned her MBA, graduating with honors), and a passion to help people discover their true nature. Oh, and she absolutely, truly loves to serve others - especially when there's cleaning, organizing, and beautifying to be done.
Rev. Chasayk was ordained Novice Monk in the Five Mountain Order on September 3, 2011, and Bodhisattva Monk on November 3, 2012.
Boepsanim also came to Zen through P'arang Geri Larkin, former Guiding Teacher at Still Point Zen Buddhist Temple, where she took Precepts in May of 2004 and received the Buddhist name Chasayk. She and her husband, Charama, founded and are Abbots of Only Love Zen Sitting Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Rev. Chasayk is an avid outdoor person who'd rather ride a bike than an office chair any day. So, she loves to ski, run, hike, and garden. (She also spearheads the Spring and Fall neighborhood trash pick-up efforts.) When she's not baking flowerless chocolate cake or arranging flowers just so, you can find her standing outside humming John Denver's song, "Sunshine On My Shoulders."
She has a mile-wide smile, a near photographic memory (which came in handy when she earned her MBA, graduating with honors), and a passion to help people discover their true nature. Oh, and she absolutely, truly loves to serve others - especially when there's cleaning, organizing, and beautifying to be done.
Rev. Crystal Beopbo Muldrow (Bodhisattva Monk)
A fully ordained Unity minister, Crystal has taken Bodhisattva precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and studies with Ven. Dr. Wanji Dharma at Beyond Walls Zen in Kansas City, MO, where she also serves as Abbess of her Zen Center. Crystal is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Buddhist Monk through continued weekly study and practice.
A fully ordained Unity minister, Crystal has taken Bodhisattva precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and studies with Ven. Dr. Wanji Dharma at Beyond Walls Zen in Kansas City, MO, where she also serves as Abbess of her Zen Center. Crystal is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Buddhist Monk through continued weekly study and practice.
Sramanera (Sami Sunims)
Elizabeth Boephwa Williams (Samini Sunim)
Elizabeth has taken Sramanera precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and studies with Wanji Sunim at Beyond Walls Zen in Kansas City, MO. Elizabeth is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Zen Priest.
"I am an avid distance runner, getting up at 5 am to fit in my 5-mile runs," Boephwa says. "I enjoy participating in official runs throughout the city. I have run for great causes. I ran a half marathon, and am now focusing on running a full marathon. One of my life's goals is to run on every continent of the world.
"I am a vegetarian and enjoy holistic eating and living. I am working on an Associates degree so I can further my studies in holistic nutrition. I have a daughter who is 14 years of age, one very special dog named Zoose, and am currently engaged to a man who is also pursuing his spiritual studies with Siddha Yoga Meditation. I love the outdoors and to go hiking."
Elizabeth has taken Sramanera precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and studies with Wanji Sunim at Beyond Walls Zen in Kansas City, MO. Elizabeth is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Zen Priest.
"I am an avid distance runner, getting up at 5 am to fit in my 5-mile runs," Boephwa says. "I enjoy participating in official runs throughout the city. I have run for great causes. I ran a half marathon, and am now focusing on running a full marathon. One of my life's goals is to run on every continent of the world.
"I am a vegetarian and enjoy holistic eating and living. I am working on an Associates degree so I can further my studies in holistic nutrition. I have a daughter who is 14 years of age, one very special dog named Zoose, and am currently engaged to a man who is also pursuing his spiritual studies with Siddha Yoga Meditation. I love the outdoors and to go hiking."
Jeremy Songdo Williams (Sami Sunim)
Although Songdo is a practicing anesthesiologist whose job it is to help people sleep safely through surgery, his job as a practitioner of Zen is, ironically, to help people wake up.
Songdo grew up in the Presbyterian Church in N.C. Around the age of 14, he was introduced to meditation, the Tao Te Ching and many other "new-thought" Christian spiritual teachings. He studied about every major world religion and was especially interested in the mystical side of these religions, such as Kabala, Sufism, Christian mystics, etc. But it was Taoism and Buddhism that held the most attraction for Songdo. So, naturally, he started focusing more on them.
Songdo started down the Buddhist path in earnest in the year 2000 when he attended meditation courses in the Shambhala Tibetan tradition in Boulder, CO. He formally took the Five Precepts in 2004. Because of his personal interest and inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr., Songdo discovered Thich Nhat Hanh. He read many of Thay’s books and eventually sat with him in a week-long retreat in the mountains of Colorado. He was involved in Thay's Sangha for many years.
After Songdo met his wife, who is from Korea, he discovered Zen Master Seung Sahn and BOOM! "It was like coming home," he says. Songdo felt such a strong inclination to Zen Master Seung Sahn’s teachings that although Songdo never met Seun Sahn in person, he felt as though he could hear his voice and his laughter as he read the Zen Master's books.
Songdo read many other wonderful teachers in almost every major Buddhist school: Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, etc, yet he says he is most in tune and attracted to the Zen method and path because he feels it is best suited to himself and cuts straight through most of the fog of his mind and gets right at the heart of life. Later, Songdo discovered the Five Mountain Zen Order, the Dharma University, and met Dr. Paul Wonji Seon Sa Nim. Songdo receives weekly koan training from Wonji Dharma, of whom Songdo says, "I have never met a teacher so willing to spend so much face-to-face time helping me with my practice and am very grateful for his time, help and encouragement."
About the Five Mountain Zen Order Songdo says, "It is a true honor now to join the Five Mountain Zen Order, as a novice Zen Priest. This is a forward thinking, open-minded, hugging, often laughing-and-smiling Sangha."
Songdo and his wife started New Tampa Zen Sangha in January, 2012. Their daughter and son practice with them.
Although Songdo is a practicing anesthesiologist whose job it is to help people sleep safely through surgery, his job as a practitioner of Zen is, ironically, to help people wake up.
Songdo grew up in the Presbyterian Church in N.C. Around the age of 14, he was introduced to meditation, the Tao Te Ching and many other "new-thought" Christian spiritual teachings. He studied about every major world religion and was especially interested in the mystical side of these religions, such as Kabala, Sufism, Christian mystics, etc. But it was Taoism and Buddhism that held the most attraction for Songdo. So, naturally, he started focusing more on them.
Songdo started down the Buddhist path in earnest in the year 2000 when he attended meditation courses in the Shambhala Tibetan tradition in Boulder, CO. He formally took the Five Precepts in 2004. Because of his personal interest and inspiration from Martin Luther King, Jr., Songdo discovered Thich Nhat Hanh. He read many of Thay’s books and eventually sat with him in a week-long retreat in the mountains of Colorado. He was involved in Thay's Sangha for many years.
After Songdo met his wife, who is from Korea, he discovered Zen Master Seung Sahn and BOOM! "It was like coming home," he says. Songdo felt such a strong inclination to Zen Master Seung Sahn’s teachings that although Songdo never met Seun Sahn in person, he felt as though he could hear his voice and his laughter as he read the Zen Master's books.
Songdo read many other wonderful teachers in almost every major Buddhist school: Theravada, Mahayana, Zen, etc, yet he says he is most in tune and attracted to the Zen method and path because he feels it is best suited to himself and cuts straight through most of the fog of his mind and gets right at the heart of life. Later, Songdo discovered the Five Mountain Zen Order, the Dharma University, and met Dr. Paul Wonji Seon Sa Nim. Songdo receives weekly koan training from Wonji Dharma, of whom Songdo says, "I have never met a teacher so willing to spend so much face-to-face time helping me with my practice and am very grateful for his time, help and encouragement."
About the Five Mountain Zen Order Songdo says, "It is a true honor now to join the Five Mountain Zen Order, as a novice Zen Priest. This is a forward thinking, open-minded, hugging, often laughing-and-smiling Sangha."
Songdo and his wife started New Tampa Zen Sangha in January, 2012. Their daughter and son practice with them.
Anagarika (Haeng Ja Nim)
Chris Bŏnjōk Hoff (Haeng Ja Nim)
Chris Bŏnjōk Hoff, MFT, ordained Anagarika in the Five Mountain Order. In addition, Bŏnjōk is the Abbot of the Ocean Eyes Zen Center / Huntington Beach Meditation Group in Huntington Beach, California.
Bŏnjōk began meditative practices in the Vedanta Tradition more than fifteen years ago. Having studied with a variety of teachers he is currently engaged in practice with Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma and has taken ten precepts in the Five Mountain Order. He is also an M.A. (IMF #66002) Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern with the Project. Chris' work is grounded in Narrative theory, an evolving collection of ideas and practices that inform a respectful, collaborative and non-pathologising approach to working with people and communities.
He works with young people, women, men, couples and families in response to a wide range of concerns, and has a particular interest in the meanings that people develop from their life experiences. Through the Narrative Project, he provides a wide range of executive and organizational development consulting services. Chris' organizational work is based on Appreciative Inquiry, a body of work that focuses on developing an organization's positive core to inspire collaborative action that serves the whole system. AI is the powerful new paradigm for strength-based organizational transformation. Chris also blogs for OC Metro magazine, writing about leading-edge postmodern collaborative practices. Prior to joining the Project, in 1996, Chris co-founded Two Roads Professional Resources Inc., a full-service engineering and information technology staffing company. He helped grow the business to eight figures in sales and over 200 employees. Chris successfully exited the business in January, 2010. Also, he has been an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalist, and has over 20 years of experience in human resources.
Chris Hoff currently serves on the California state board of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and is a member of several other nonprofit boards serving both the arts and issues of social justice. He has also presented across the country on topics such as Social Justice and Social Entrepreneurship. Chris has also been a guest lecturer at Pepperdine University. Chris Hoff, California Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern #66002, Supervised by Anne Arnold, MFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #34382.
Chris Bŏnjōk Hoff, MFT, ordained Anagarika in the Five Mountain Order. In addition, Bŏnjōk is the Abbot of the Ocean Eyes Zen Center / Huntington Beach Meditation Group in Huntington Beach, California.
Bŏnjōk began meditative practices in the Vedanta Tradition more than fifteen years ago. Having studied with a variety of teachers he is currently engaged in practice with Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma and has taken ten precepts in the Five Mountain Order. He is also an M.A. (IMF #66002) Registered Marriage & Family Therapist Intern with the Project. Chris' work is grounded in Narrative theory, an evolving collection of ideas and practices that inform a respectful, collaborative and non-pathologising approach to working with people and communities.
He works with young people, women, men, couples and families in response to a wide range of concerns, and has a particular interest in the meanings that people develop from their life experiences. Through the Narrative Project, he provides a wide range of executive and organizational development consulting services. Chris' organizational work is based on Appreciative Inquiry, a body of work that focuses on developing an organization's positive core to inspire collaborative action that serves the whole system. AI is the powerful new paradigm for strength-based organizational transformation. Chris also blogs for OC Metro magazine, writing about leading-edge postmodern collaborative practices. Prior to joining the Project, in 1996, Chris co-founded Two Roads Professional Resources Inc., a full-service engineering and information technology staffing company. He helped grow the business to eight figures in sales and over 200 employees. Chris successfully exited the business in January, 2010. Also, he has been an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award finalist, and has over 20 years of experience in human resources.
Chris Hoff currently serves on the California state board of the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists and is a member of several other nonprofit boards serving both the arts and issues of social justice. He has also presented across the country on topics such as Social Justice and Social Entrepreneurship. Chris has also been a guest lecturer at Pepperdine University. Chris Hoff, California Registered Marriage and Family Therapist Intern #66002, Supervised by Anne Arnold, MFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist #34382.
James Kwanjin Gibbs (Haeng Ja Nim)
Novitiate James Kwanjin Gibbs is an ordained Anagarika in the Five Mountain Order. Kwanjin discovered Buddhism in about 1959, while a senior in high school. He read the Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac and then The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. In the ensuring years, he read everything he could get his hands on about Zen Buddhism. Kwanjin learned to sit in the full lotus position and he considers this to be his greatest achievement in the first twenty years or so of his life.
By the time he was sent to Korea while serving in the United States Army, he was still trying to learn without a teacher. While in Korea, Kwanjin learned more Zen from his houseboy than he had learned previously from all the books he had read. When he was discharged from the Army in 1965, he was still trying to learn Zen without a teacher. In those days, central Ohio was not exactly a hotbed of Eastern religion. Therefore, he continued to study on his own.
Following his marriage, he was still studying Zen; although he says that practicing is too strong a word for what he was doing during those years. Along the way, since his wife was Roman Catholic, he decided conversion to Catholicism was the sensible thing to do. Nov. Kwanjin had been involved in the peace movement and consequently had become enamored of St. Francis of Assisi, so the transition was painless.
During the next several years, he tried to be a good Catholic, even becoming a 3rd order Franciscan, though admittedly a closet Buddhist. He continued this way for the next several years.
In 1983, Kwanjin was an R.N. at the London Correctional Institution and was attacked by an inmate with a box cutter. Following the event, he spent two days in the hospital, plus a weekend at home and then went back to work. He often recalls about this event, “I don't know how many people asked me, why are you here today." Moreover, he would tell them, “It's Tuesday, I'm always here on Tuesday.” Moreover, Kwanjin realized he really was and had always been practicing Zen. On Tuesdays, he went to work. Therefore, for the next several years he kept practicing Zen in this way, neither the right way, nor the wrong way, just The Way.
At same time, Nov. Kwanjin was still trying to do what people expected of him as a Christian, even being ordained an Orthodox priest. On April 18, 2001 he took the Five Precepts from Rev. Ming Zhen Shakya of the Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, Las Vegas, Nevada, and was given the Dharma name Yao Xin. This was completed by e-mail, as they had never met or spoken except by e-mail. She continued to be his "teacher" for another year or so. Additionally, he continued as an Orthodox priest gradually coming out of the Zen closet little by little.
Novitiate James Kwanjin Gibbs is an ordained Anagarika in the Five Mountain Order. Kwanjin discovered Buddhism in about 1959, while a senior in high school. He read the Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac and then The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. In the ensuring years, he read everything he could get his hands on about Zen Buddhism. Kwanjin learned to sit in the full lotus position and he considers this to be his greatest achievement in the first twenty years or so of his life.
By the time he was sent to Korea while serving in the United States Army, he was still trying to learn without a teacher. While in Korea, Kwanjin learned more Zen from his houseboy than he had learned previously from all the books he had read. When he was discharged from the Army in 1965, he was still trying to learn Zen without a teacher. In those days, central Ohio was not exactly a hotbed of Eastern religion. Therefore, he continued to study on his own.
Following his marriage, he was still studying Zen; although he says that practicing is too strong a word for what he was doing during those years. Along the way, since his wife was Roman Catholic, he decided conversion to Catholicism was the sensible thing to do. Nov. Kwanjin had been involved in the peace movement and consequently had become enamored of St. Francis of Assisi, so the transition was painless.
During the next several years, he tried to be a good Catholic, even becoming a 3rd order Franciscan, though admittedly a closet Buddhist. He continued this way for the next several years.
In 1983, Kwanjin was an R.N. at the London Correctional Institution and was attacked by an inmate with a box cutter. Following the event, he spent two days in the hospital, plus a weekend at home and then went back to work. He often recalls about this event, “I don't know how many people asked me, why are you here today." Moreover, he would tell them, “It's Tuesday, I'm always here on Tuesday.” Moreover, Kwanjin realized he really was and had always been practicing Zen. On Tuesdays, he went to work. Therefore, for the next several years he kept practicing Zen in this way, neither the right way, nor the wrong way, just The Way.
At same time, Nov. Kwanjin was still trying to do what people expected of him as a Christian, even being ordained an Orthodox priest. On April 18, 2001 he took the Five Precepts from Rev. Ming Zhen Shakya of the Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun, Las Vegas, Nevada, and was given the Dharma name Yao Xin. This was completed by e-mail, as they had never met or spoken except by e-mail. She continued to be his "teacher" for another year or so. Additionally, he continued as an Orthodox priest gradually coming out of the Zen closet little by little.
Tomas Kwanji Molitor (Haeng Ja Nim)
Tomas Molitor has taken Anagarika precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and has founded the Clinton Zen Group. Tomas is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Novice Monk. He has received basic training in the Zen Practices of the order and is authorized to lead meditation for this growing Sangha.
Tomas is also a Certified Reiki Teacher, which is a Japanese form of hands on use of natural energy for the empowerment of others.
Tomas Molitor has taken Anagarika precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and has founded the Clinton Zen Group. Tomas is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Novice Monk. He has received basic training in the Zen Practices of the order and is authorized to lead meditation for this growing Sangha.
Tomas is also a Certified Reiki Teacher, which is a Japanese form of hands on use of natural energy for the empowerment of others.
Alexander Sunyata Lima (Haeng Ja Nim)
Alexander has taken Anagarika precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and initially studied with Zen Master Dae Gak who gave Alexander his Dharma Name as well as Five Precepts. Alexander is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Novice Monk. He is interested in starting a Zen studies group in the Baltimore area where he and his wife make their home.
Sunyata first felt attracted to Zen when he was five years old and started listening to advice from Master Kan and Master Po - as given to Kwai Chang Caine (a.k.a. "Grasshopper"). That's when he realized there was a level of wisdom beyond of his family's horizon. That realization sent him off onto the off-the-beaten path.
However, because he was afflicted from early age by ADD, he went in a long swirl (what he refers to as his "usual way of doing everything") around all kind of religions and spiritual practices. It was only after he exhausted what he calls "all of his nonsense" did he came back to the beginning. That's when he came back to where the "grass grows by itself."
Thirty years after he sat as a little boy watching episodes of Kung Fu, Sunyata took the Five Vows from Master Dae Gak of the Furnace Mountain monastery. Moving to Baltimore and losing contact with his original Sangha in Washington DC, forced Sunyata to try different Sanghas. But non resonated with him. He was nearly ready to give up when he, by chance, found "The Monastery Without Walls." Sunyata is grateful that the Five Mountain Zen Order has been kind enough to open its Gateless Gate to him. In typical good humor, Sunyata says he plans to enjoy Five Mountain's extreme kindness until the the teachers realized the huge mistake they made.
Sunyata tells us that the smile on the photo is fake. "I was standing on Oklahoma's highest point after a grueling and solitary hiking," he says. "By the way, the spot is in the middle of a rattlesnake sanctuary."
Alexander has taken Anagarika precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and initially studied with Zen Master Dae Gak who gave Alexander his Dharma Name as well as Five Precepts. Alexander is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Novice Monk. He is interested in starting a Zen studies group in the Baltimore area where he and his wife make their home.
Sunyata first felt attracted to Zen when he was five years old and started listening to advice from Master Kan and Master Po - as given to Kwai Chang Caine (a.k.a. "Grasshopper"). That's when he realized there was a level of wisdom beyond of his family's horizon. That realization sent him off onto the off-the-beaten path.
However, because he was afflicted from early age by ADD, he went in a long swirl (what he refers to as his "usual way of doing everything") around all kind of religions and spiritual practices. It was only after he exhausted what he calls "all of his nonsense" did he came back to the beginning. That's when he came back to where the "grass grows by itself."
Thirty years after he sat as a little boy watching episodes of Kung Fu, Sunyata took the Five Vows from Master Dae Gak of the Furnace Mountain monastery. Moving to Baltimore and losing contact with his original Sangha in Washington DC, forced Sunyata to try different Sanghas. But non resonated with him. He was nearly ready to give up when he, by chance, found "The Monastery Without Walls." Sunyata is grateful that the Five Mountain Zen Order has been kind enough to open its Gateless Gate to him. In typical good humor, Sunyata says he plans to enjoy Five Mountain's extreme kindness until the the teachers realized the huge mistake they made.
Sunyata tells us that the smile on the photo is fake. "I was standing on Oklahoma's highest point after a grueling and solitary hiking," he says. "By the way, the spot is in the middle of a rattlesnake sanctuary."
Phillip Daelim Howell (Haeng Ja Nim)
Phillip has taken Anagarika precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and initially studied with Dr. Jongmae Park of the T'aego Order of Korean Buddhism, who gave Phillip his Dharma Name as well as Five Precepts. Phillip is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Novice Monk.
He is also studying to become an Emergency Medical Technologist in the Waterford, MI area where he and his wife make their home.
Phillip has taken Anagarika precepts in the Five Mountain Zen Order and initially studied with Dr. Jongmae Park of the T'aego Order of Korean Buddhism, who gave Phillip his Dharma Name as well as Five Precepts. Phillip is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Novice Monk.
He is also studying to become an Emergency Medical Technologist in the Waterford, MI area where he and his wife make their home.
Daniel Boepyol Scharpenburg (Haeng Ja Nim)
Daniel has taken Anagarika Precepts and studies with Wanji Sunim at Beyond Walls Zen in Kansas City. He is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Zen Monk. Originally trained in the Vajrayana tradition, Daniel joined the Five Mountain Zen Order in 2011.
Daniel is the director and lead teacher in a Buddhism for children program at a nonsectarian Buddhist Center in Kansas City. "I don't like to call it teaching religion to children," he says, "I prefer to think of it as teaching them the foundations of mindfulness and compassion."
Daniel has taken Anagarika Precepts and studies with Wanji Sunim at Beyond Walls Zen in Kansas City. He is currently enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies and is working towards becoming a Zen Monk. Originally trained in the Vajrayana tradition, Daniel joined the Five Mountain Zen Order in 2011.
Daniel is the director and lead teacher in a Buddhism for children program at a nonsectarian Buddhist Center in Kansas City. "I don't like to call it teaching religion to children," he says, "I prefer to think of it as teaching them the foundations of mindfulness and compassion."
David Songan Cropper (Haeng Ja Nim)
Bio coming soon!
Bio coming soon!
John Songmin Jennings (Haeng Ja Nim)
John Songmin Jennings, BSN RN PHN, started meditating at age 17 when he entered The Jesuit Order where he spent two years living in silence. After leaving the cloister, he found Soto Zen and took Lay Precepts. While on a trip to Hawaii two years ago, Songmin met Korean Zen Mater Who AM I of Mu Ryung Sa Temple who encouraged Songmin to study Korean Buddhism and Kong-an. On return to the mainland, Songmin discovered Five Mountain Zen Order. He is now ordained as an Anagarika.
He is also enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies, working towards ordination as a Novice Monk. He studies under Ven Haeja Sunim.
Songmin holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Fordham University and a BSN in Nursing Science from The University of San Francisco. He is licensed as a Registered Nurse and Public Health Nurse in the State of California. He has worked for the US Department of Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco as a Critical Care Nurse for 21 years.
Songmin lives with his husband of 36 years in San Francisco. They are both graduates of California Culinary Academy. They enjoy cooking, gardening, and spending weekends in the mountains above the Napa Valley.
Songmin is grateful to have found The Five Mountain Order of Zen and looks forward to playing a supportive role in helping Five Mountain propagate the Dharma.
John Songmin Jennings, BSN RN PHN, started meditating at age 17 when he entered The Jesuit Order where he spent two years living in silence. After leaving the cloister, he found Soto Zen and took Lay Precepts. While on a trip to Hawaii two years ago, Songmin met Korean Zen Mater Who AM I of Mu Ryung Sa Temple who encouraged Songmin to study Korean Buddhism and Kong-an. On return to the mainland, Songmin discovered Five Mountain Zen Order. He is now ordained as an Anagarika.
He is also enrolled in the College of Zen Buddhist Studies, working towards ordination as a Novice Monk. He studies under Ven Haeja Sunim.
Songmin holds a BA in Latin American Studies from Fordham University and a BSN in Nursing Science from The University of San Francisco. He is licensed as a Registered Nurse and Public Health Nurse in the State of California. He has worked for the US Department of Veteran's Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco as a Critical Care Nurse for 21 years.
Songmin lives with his husband of 36 years in San Francisco. They are both graduates of California Culinary Academy. They enjoy cooking, gardening, and spending weekends in the mountains above the Napa Valley.
Songmin is grateful to have found The Five Mountain Order of Zen and looks forward to playing a supportive role in helping Five Mountain propagate the Dharma.
