OUR TEACHERS

Zen Master Seung Sahn

Founding Teacher of Dharma Zen Center and Kwan Um School of Zen

Dharma Zen Center was founded by Zen Master Seung Sahn, the great Korean Zen Master who first came to the U.S. in 1972. During his 32 years of teaching in the West, he founded the Kwan Um School of Zen, an international group of over 100 Temples, Zen Centers and groups around the world. Zen Master Seung Sahn was the 78th patriarch in his line of transmission in the Chogye order of Korean Buddhism.

His books include Only Don't Know, Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, The Compass of Zen, and The Whole World is a Single Flower - 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life. Zen Master Seung Sahn died peacefully on November 30, 2004 at Hwa Gye Sah Temple in Seoul, Korea, surrounded by his students. He was 77.  

Zen Master Soeng Hyang

School Zen Master

Zen Master Soeng Hyang (Barbara Rhodes) is the School Zen Master of the Kwan Um School of Zen. She received dharma transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn on October 10, 1992. She was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn's first American students and studied with him beginning in 1972. She was given inka in 1977. A registered nurse since 1969, she currently works in hospice care. She helped found Providence Zen Center, and lived there for seventeen years, serving in a number of administrative capacities. Zen Master Soeng Hyang has a daughter and lives with her partner, Mary, in California.

Paul Park, JDPSN

Guiding Teacher, Dharma Zen Center

Paul Park, JDPSN, received inka (permission to teach from a Zen Master) at Providence Zen Center from Zen Master Seung Sahn in April 1998. He is a restauranteur and teaches out of the Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles. Paul Park, JDPSN, practiced with Zen Master Seung Sahn. Paul has a straightforward approach to life and is a dedicated father and son. Park, JDPSN, leads retreats at Dharma Zen Center as well as other centers in the affiliated Southwest Zen Centers.

Tim Colohan, JDPSN

Tim Colohan, JDPSN practices at Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles, CA. He started training with Zen Master Seung Sahn at Dharma Zen Center in 1985. He took 5 precepts in 1991 and 10 precepts in 1993. In 1995 he sat a 90-day Winter Kyol Che retreat at Hwa Gae Sah Temple and again in 1997 at Shin Won Sah Temple. His practice supports him in the day to day realities of the contemporary world. In 1992, he began a career in Set Decoration for TV and Film. In April of 2022 he received inka, permission to teach, from Zen Master Soeng Hyang at the Providence Zen Center. He has been on the Teachers Council of Long Beach Meditation since 2015. He practices with “Silver Lake Meditation Group” and a Pasadena interfaith group. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his husband Bernie.

Senior Dharma Teachers

David McDonald (also DZC Abbot), Patrick Park, Bridget Duff, Sonya Shelton, and others

Dharma Teachers

David Andrew, Edahn Small, Matt Kamm, Josh Atlas, Bruce Olsen, and others

Dharma Teachers in Training

Ella Baker, Kam Sayari