Five Mountain Zen Order Leaders
Rev. Paul Yuánzhì Lynch, SBN (Sa Bu Nim)
Rev. Paul Yuánzhì Lynch, (SSN: Soen Sa Nim) is the founder of the Five Mountain Zen Order. Soensanim began practicing Vipassana Meditation in 1986 with Swami Siraj and became a member of his organization. Soensanim's direction was always informed by Zen and luckily he discovered Zen Master Seung Sahn and the Kwan Um School of Zen in 1989 and began practicing in Los Angeles. Being struck with the simplicity of the practice and with the sanction and encouragement of Zen Master Seung Sahn, they founded the Huntington Beach Zen Center on August 14 of 1993 where Soensanim was installed as Abbot by Zen Master Seung Sahn at the Opening Ceremony.
The Huntington Beach Zen Center was renamed one year later at the first anniversary ceremony by Zen Master Seung Sahn to (Hae An Soen Won) Ocean Eyes Zen Center. The center was originally founded as a residential Zen Center where up to eight students lived and practiced together every day. The Zen Center eventually moved to Stanton and later to Long Beach when it was forced to transform into a non-residential Center in 2000 due to Zoning Issues with the City of Long Beach.
Soensanim was ordained by Zen Master Seung Sahn as a Dharma Teacher in 1995 and received teaching Authorization from Zen Master Ji Bong, (an independent Heir of Zen Master Seung Sahn), in the Golden Wind Zen Order in April of 2006. Soensanim no longer participates with the Golden Wind Order and has consequently founded the Five Mountain Zen Order. He has practiced with more than thirty different Zen Buddhist Masters during his time and maintains an eclectic approach to spirituality.
The Huntington Beach Zen Center was renamed one year later at the first anniversary ceremony by Zen Master Seung Sahn to (Hae An Soen Won) Ocean Eyes Zen Center. The center was originally founded as a residential Zen Center where up to eight students lived and practiced together every day. The Zen Center eventually moved to Stanton and later to Long Beach when it was forced to transform into a non-residential Center in 2000 due to Zoning Issues with the City of Long Beach.
Soensanim was ordained by Zen Master Seung Sahn as a Dharma Teacher in 1995 and received teaching Authorization from Zen Master Ji Bong, (an independent Heir of Zen Master Seung Sahn), in the Golden Wind Zen Order in April of 2006. Soensanim no longer participates with the Golden Wind Order and has consequently founded the Five Mountain Zen Order. He has practiced with more than thirty different Zen Buddhist Masters during his time and maintains an eclectic approach to spirituality.
Rev Sōkan LeBlanc, BJN (Boep Ju Nim)
Rev. Hwasahn LeBlanc, (SBN: Sa Bu Nim) is a Dharma Master and Bodhisattva Priest (Bosal Sunim) in the Five Mountain Zen Order. He also serves as the Rector of the Five Mountain Order and is the Guiding Teacher of the Mountain Gate Zen Center in Berkeley, California.
Rev. Hwasahn began practicing Zen Buddhism in 1986 at the age of twenty-one under the renowned Japanese teacher Taizan Maezumi Roshi at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. He became a resident of ZCLA, practicing daily in a lay-monastic environment. Following a break to finish his Acupuncture Degree and establish his new practice, Rev Hwasahn returned to formal study of Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Robert Jibong Moore of the Golden Wind Zen Group. Zen Master Jibong was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s earliest American students.
Professionally Rev. Hwasahn is a practitioner of Oriental medicine (L.Ac.) and is a teacher of Chinese martial arts and Daoist Yoga. He is certified in Tien Tao Chi Kung and has over the years studied was various Qi Gong masters. Rev Hwasahn has served as a college teacher of both acupuncture anatomy and herb pharmacology & Chinese nutrition. In 2009, Gregory founded Turning Point of Berkeley California, an institute dedicated to bringing the wisdom of Asian mind-body healing techniques to the public.
Rev. Hwasahn began practicing Zen Buddhism in 1986 at the age of twenty-one under the renowned Japanese teacher Taizan Maezumi Roshi at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. He became a resident of ZCLA, practicing daily in a lay-monastic environment. Following a break to finish his Acupuncture Degree and establish his new practice, Rev Hwasahn returned to formal study of Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Robert Jibong Moore of the Golden Wind Zen Group. Zen Master Jibong was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s earliest American students.
Professionally Rev. Hwasahn is a practitioner of Oriental medicine (L.Ac.) and is a teacher of Chinese martial arts and Daoist Yoga. He is certified in Tien Tao Chi Kung and has over the years studied was various Qi Gong masters. Rev Hwasahn has served as a college teacher of both acupuncture anatomy and herb pharmacology & Chinese nutrition. In 2009, Gregory founded Turning Point of Berkeley California, an institute dedicated to bringing the wisdom of Asian mind-body healing techniques to the public.
Rev. Jishou Sears, BJN (Boep Ju Nim)
Rev. Jishou Sears, (BJN: Boep Ju Nim) is a Dharma Holder and Bodhisattva Priest (Bosal Sunim) in the Five Mountain Zen Order. He also serves as the Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation. Rev. Jishou ordained as a lay practitioner in Japanese Tendai Buddhism where he received extensive teachings on sutra and tantra and has been fortunate enough to be able to practice these teachings both in everyday life. Boep Ju Nim began practicing with Rev. Yuanzhi in 2008 and based upon his diligent practices during retreat. and was given teaching authorization by Rev. Yuánzhì in 2011.
Rev. Jishou also holds a PsyD, MBA, and ABPP. He is lead author of the book Consultation Skills for Mental Health Professionals and is co-author of “The Clinical Uses of Mindfulness” in the book Innovations in Clinical Practice. He runs a small private psychology and consulting practice (www.psych-insights.com).
Richard is also a fifth degree black belt in Ninjutsu (receiving the warrior name Watoshi), a licensed private pilot, and received past certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. He once served as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama of Tibet with his teacher, Stephen Jien Hayes.
Rev. Jishou also holds a PsyD, MBA, and ABPP. He is lead author of the book Consultation Skills for Mental Health Professionals and is co-author of “The Clinical Uses of Mindfulness” in the book Innovations in Clinical Practice. He runs a small private psychology and consulting practice (www.psych-insights.com).
Richard is also a fifth degree black belt in Ninjutsu (receiving the warrior name Watoshi), a licensed private pilot, and received past certification as an Emergency Medical Technician. He once served as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama of Tibet with his teacher, Stephen Jien Hayes.
Rev. Domun Gaffaney, BJN (Boep Ju Nim)
Rev. Domun Gaffaney, (BJN: Boep Ju Nim) is a Dharma Holder and Bodhisattva Priest (Bosal Sunim) in the Five Mountain Zen Order. He began training with Rev. Yuanzhi in early 2004 at the Ocean Eyes Zen Center in Long Beach.
Rev. Domun was interested in the Buddha and meditation from an early age. Interest turned into meditation practice in the early nineties, starting 5 thought-filled minutes at a time. He briefly visited a few different meditation centers, however a life Koan became - “If the Buddha was able to attain enlightenment without belonging to a Sangha, why can't I?” He continued his personal practice of sitting along with reading the books of Seung Sahn. In 2004 he met Rev. Paul Yuánzhì Lynch at the Golden Wind Zen Center. Not yet ready to join a sangha, he worked on and off with Paul. In 2010 he added intensive Koan practice with Paul to his meditation practice. This Koan practice turned out to be the missing ingredient, and his personal Koan was answered in January of 2012 when Domun was made a Dharma Holder in the Five Mountain Order. He now wishes to share the benefits of Zen and Koan practice with others.
Rev. Domun was interested in the Buddha and meditation from an early age. Interest turned into meditation practice in the early nineties, starting 5 thought-filled minutes at a time. He briefly visited a few different meditation centers, however a life Koan became - “If the Buddha was able to attain enlightenment without belonging to a Sangha, why can't I?” He continued his personal practice of sitting along with reading the books of Seung Sahn. In 2004 he met Rev. Paul Yuánzhì Lynch at the Golden Wind Zen Center. Not yet ready to join a sangha, he worked on and off with Paul. In 2010 he added intensive Koan practice with Paul to his meditation practice. This Koan practice turned out to be the missing ingredient, and his personal Koan was answered in January of 2012 when Domun was made a Dharma Holder in the Five Mountain Order. He now wishes to share the benefits of Zen and Koan practice with others.
Haeja Sunim is our Korean Monk liaison from the Overseas Taego Order of Korean Buddhism. Sunim had previously practiced Zen for twenty years, mostly with the Kwan Um School of Zen where he was a Dharma Teacher in Training for more than ten years. He discovered the Taego Order while in Korea and was drawn by their preference for reaching out to help the community instead of focusing on monastic life. Impressed with the Taego Order’s liberal view, and full acceptance of women, he is proud to be amoung the first group of male monks who received ordination with a female witness master.
