Teachers and Practice Leaders

GUIDING TEACHER OF LIVING VOW ZEN

Michael is a Living Vow Zen Guiding Teacher and oshō (priest). Mike is a fully transmitted dharma heir of David Rynick, Rōshi, in three lineages: an ordained Sōtō tradition, the Harada-Yasutani kōan school, and the Korean Seon tradition descended from the Linji (Rinzai) lines. Mike is a Boundless Way Zen Guiding Teacher emeritus. Mike also has a Ph.D. in Education and is a high school English teacher.

PRACTICE LEADERS AT MORNING STAR ZEN SANGHA

Sandra Chōshin Raponi, Practice Leader

Sandra has been a Practice Leader with Morning Star since January 2015. Sandra is a philosophy professor and has a law degree and a Ph.D. in philosophy. Her work focuses on global justice and human rights.

Heidi Shōkon Koelz, Practice Leader Intern

Heidi first began Zen practice in Providence, RI, in 2008. After a long break, she joined Morning Star in 2022. Heidi works in nonprofit communications as a writer and editor.

OTHER TEACHERS IN LIVING VOW ZEN

Bob is a fully-transmitted Zen teacher who is Dharma heir to Melissa Myōzen Blacker, Rōshi, in two lineages: an ordained Sōtō transmission through Jiyu Kennett, Rōshi and a lay kōan-teaching lineage through John Tarrant, Rōshi. Bob is also a senior Sōtō Zen priest (Oshō) and was ordained in 2013. He is a psychiatrist who directs a psychotherapy teaching program at Massachusetts General Hospital.