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Zen Master Soeng Hyang

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.

Nancy Hedgpeth JDPSN

Nancy Brown Hedgpeth JDPSN has practiced with the KUSZ since 1979 and received inka in 1994. She has lived at and worked for a number of zen centers and has sat long retreats in the US and South Korea. She is Co-Guiding Teacher for the Providence Zen Center. She is a retired nurse. These days she lives in Waterville, Maine from which she does most of her group practice online.

Igor Piniński JDPSN 

Igor Piniński JDPSN graduated in acting from a prestigious Łódź film school. Right now he is working in his own film studio in Łódź, focusing on educational films. He lives with his wife in the countryside near Łódź. He started practicing in Łódź Zen Center in 1995 and has participated in over 120 YMJJs in Łódź, and also every year in the Kyol Che at Wu Bong Sah. On March 9, 2013, Igor Piniński received Inka from Zen Master Bon Shim in Wu Bong Sah Temple in Poland.

SK Teoh JDPSN

SK Teoh JDPSN is from Malaysia and received inka in 2015. After completing university in the UK, he stayed on to work there. In 1992, he began to practice Zen after being inspired by Zen Master Seung Sahn’s teachings in Hong Kong. He served in the first directors’ group at Su Bong Zen Monastery there. Ordaining in February 1997, he trained as a Zen monk for twenty eight years, sixteen of which was spent in Korea. He served in various positions at Mu Sang Sa and returned to Malaysia in 2013, founding Haeng Won Zen Centre in Penang where he is the guiding teacher. He continues to teach Zen in a secular capacity and pursue his interests in the climate, environment, death and dying.

Barbara Pardo JDPSN

Barbara Pardo JDPSN received inka from Zen Master Bon Shim in 2019. She was born in Barcelona, Spain and her late parents were some of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s first students in Spain in the 80’s. Barbara started practicing in 1994, sitting many retreats since then, and serving in many roles in the Bori Sa sangha in various locations in Catalonia. In 2008 she founded and resided in the Barcelona Zen Center. Later, in 2012, she and her husband, Tonda, moved to the Pyrenees mountains to establish Borisa Retreat Center. Barbara is a graphic designer who works for the publishing company La Liebre de Marzo, which publishes Buddhist books.

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 and sat a number of long retreats. In April of 2022 he received inka from Zen Master Soeng Hyang at the Providence Zen Center. He is involved with various multifaith groups in the greater Los Angeles area and before retirement worked in set decoration for TV and Film. Tim currently lives in Los Angeles with his husband Bernie, enjoying his kids, their grandchildren and retirement.