Zen is the practice of seeing into Self-nature and realizing
one's True-mind, which is to realize one's innate wisdom, love,
and compassion. Wisdom is the experience of the indivisibility
of all existence. Love is the feeling of great intimacy arising
when separation comes to an end. Compassion is the action spontaneously
unfolding from wisdom and love.
--Danan Henry Roshi--
Danan Henry was born abroad of American parents in 1939 and
lived abroad until 1957, when he came to the United States to
study at the University of California at Berkeley. He began formal
spiritual training in 1965 at the Gurdjieff Foundation in New
York City. In 1975, he relocated to Rochester, New York, to become
a student and disciple of Philip Kapleau Roshi. He entered monastic
training at the Rochester Zen Center in 1979 and was ordained
a Zen Buddhist priest in 1986. In 1987, he was granted inka (confirmation
of his completion of koan study and formal training) and assumed
teaching responsibilities. In 1989, Kapleau Roshi sanctioned Danan
as a full teacher and spiritual director of the Zen Center of
Denver. Since 1990, Danan has traveled regularly to Hawaii to
continue his formal Zen training under Robert Aitken Roshi, who
has given authorization to Danan as a Diamond Sangha teacher.
Assistant Teachers
Karin Kempe has been practicing Zen since 1971, initially at the Rochester Zen Center under Philip Kapleau Roshi and then with Toni Packer. Karin worked as a family physician for 20 years while raising her family. She moved back to Colorado in 1991 and practiced with Shishin Wick, a Dharma heir of Taizan Maezumi Roshi, at the Great Mountain Zen Center, receiving lay ordination from him in 1997. Karin completed her koan training in 2005 with Danan Henry Roshi at the Zen Center of Denver. She has been authorized to teach by Danan Henry Roshi, and she is currently Head of Zendo.Karin teachesMindfulness-BasedStress Reduction as part of her medical practice.
Ken Morgareidge joined the Denver Zen Center and became a student of Phillip Kapleau Roshi in 1984. He received the rakusu (lay ordination) in 1986. He became a student of Danan Henry Roshi in 1988 and completed formal koan training in 2002. He has been authorized to teach by Danan Henry Roshi, and he served as Head of Zendo from 2005 through 2007. Ken earned a Ph.D. in physiology from UCLA and is now retired after 30 years teaching human biology courses at the Boulder College ofMassage Therapy.
Peggy Sheehan has been practicing and studying with Danan Henry Roshi at the Denver Zen Center since 1991. She received lay ordination from Danan Henry Roshi in 1999 and served as Head of Zendo from 2001 to 2005. She completed her koan study in 2005 and has been authorized to teach by Danan Henry Roshi. Peggy is a practicing pediatrician who is interested in mind-body medicine and teaches Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction as part of her medical practice.
