Governing Board of Regents
Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma (Chancellor and President)
Ven. Wonji Dharma is a Bhikṣu in the Lam Te Thíen tradition and a Brahmajala Monk in the Kwan Um Jong tradition; additionally, he is a Zen Teacher and the Founder - Guiding Teacher of the Five Mountain Zen Order as well as the Chancellor of Buddha Dharma University.
Ven. Wonji was ordained by Zen Master Seung Sahn as a Dharma teacher in 1996, as a Senior Dharma Teacher in 2001 and as a Brahmajala Monk in 2002. He received teaching authorization from Zen Master Ji Bong, in the Golden Wind Zen Order in April, 2006. Wonji additionally received the 250 Bhikṣu vows on November 1, 2012 with Bhante Suhita Dharma (Hòa Thượng Thích Ân Đức), who was the first Dharma Heir of the Most Venerable Hòa Thượng Dr. Thiên Ân. Unfortunately Bhante died suddenly on Dec. 28, 2013 in Los Angeles at Chùa Diệu Pháp Temple in San Gabriel, California, where he resided. He was 73. Following the agreement made with Bhante Suhita Dharma to study for at least five years under a Thien Master, on July 15, 2014, Wonji was accepted as a student of Ven. Thích Ân Giáo Roshi who was Bhante Suhita's Dharma Brother and close friend.
History
Ven. Wonji originally began practicing Advaita Vedānta as well as Vipassana Meditation in 1985 with Swami Chaitanya Siraj and took refuge vows with his teacher that same year. Swami Chaitanya Siraj had studied with Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) in his Indian Ashram for many years and was designated as a teacher in Osho's lineage; additionally Siraj's path of teaching was wide and open to all of the Wisdom Traditions.
Ven. Wonji's direction has been informed by Zen since his College days of studying Psychology. Wanting to experience the direct experience of koan study he eventually discovered Zen Master Seung Sahn and the Kwan Um School of Zen in 1989 and began practicing regularly at Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles. After practicing and training at Dharma Zen Center for five years he received sanction and encouragement from Zen Master Seung Sahn to open the Huntington Beach Zen Center on August 14, 1993, where Wonji was installed as Abbot by Zen Master Seung Sahn during the Opening Ceremony.
The Huntington Beach Zen Center was renamed one year later at the first anniversary ceremony by Zen Master Seung Sahn to Ocean Eyes Zen Center (Hae An Soen Won). The center was originally founded as a residential Zen Center where up to six students lived and practiced together every morning and every evening. The Zen Center eventually moved to Stanton and later to the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach where it remained until the center was forced to close and relocate to a non-residential Center in 2000 due to zoning Issues with the City of Long Beach.
He has practiced with more than thirty different Zen Buddhist masters, as well as several Transmitted Catholic Zen masters during his studies and consequently maintains an eclectic approach to spirituality. Wonji earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach, he also hold a Master of Dharma Degree in Buddhist Psychology and a Doctor of Dharma in Buddhist Psychology from the Buddhist Studies Institute of Los Angeles. When the outgoing President and Abbot of both the Buddhist Studies Institute of Los Angeles and the International Buddhist Meditation Center of Los Angeles stepped down and retired Ven. Karuna Dharma, the previous President of the College, turned over control to the Five Mountain Zen Order. Ven. Wonji currently resides at Chùa Pháp Ấn (Dharma Seal Temple) which is located in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ven. Wonji was ordained by Zen Master Seung Sahn as a Dharma teacher in 1996, as a Senior Dharma Teacher in 2001 and as a Brahmajala Monk in 2002. He received teaching authorization from Zen Master Ji Bong, in the Golden Wind Zen Order in April, 2006. Wonji additionally received the 250 Bhikṣu vows on November 1, 2012 with Bhante Suhita Dharma (Hòa Thượng Thích Ân Đức), who was the first Dharma Heir of the Most Venerable Hòa Thượng Dr. Thiên Ân. Unfortunately Bhante died suddenly on Dec. 28, 2013 in Los Angeles at Chùa Diệu Pháp Temple in San Gabriel, California, where he resided. He was 73. Following the agreement made with Bhante Suhita Dharma to study for at least five years under a Thien Master, on July 15, 2014, Wonji was accepted as a student of Ven. Thích Ân Giáo Roshi who was Bhante Suhita's Dharma Brother and close friend.
History
Ven. Wonji originally began practicing Advaita Vedānta as well as Vipassana Meditation in 1985 with Swami Chaitanya Siraj and took refuge vows with his teacher that same year. Swami Chaitanya Siraj had studied with Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh (Osho) in his Indian Ashram for many years and was designated as a teacher in Osho's lineage; additionally Siraj's path of teaching was wide and open to all of the Wisdom Traditions.
Ven. Wonji's direction has been informed by Zen since his College days of studying Psychology. Wanting to experience the direct experience of koan study he eventually discovered Zen Master Seung Sahn and the Kwan Um School of Zen in 1989 and began practicing regularly at Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles. After practicing and training at Dharma Zen Center for five years he received sanction and encouragement from Zen Master Seung Sahn to open the Huntington Beach Zen Center on August 14, 1993, where Wonji was installed as Abbot by Zen Master Seung Sahn during the Opening Ceremony.
The Huntington Beach Zen Center was renamed one year later at the first anniversary ceremony by Zen Master Seung Sahn to Ocean Eyes Zen Center (Hae An Soen Won). The center was originally founded as a residential Zen Center where up to six students lived and practiced together every morning and every evening. The Zen Center eventually moved to Stanton and later to the Bixby Knolls area of Long Beach where it remained until the center was forced to close and relocate to a non-residential Center in 2000 due to zoning Issues with the City of Long Beach.
He has practiced with more than thirty different Zen Buddhist masters, as well as several Transmitted Catholic Zen masters during his studies and consequently maintains an eclectic approach to spirituality. Wonji earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Cal State Long Beach, he also hold a Master of Dharma Degree in Buddhist Psychology and a Doctor of Dharma in Buddhist Psychology from the Buddhist Studies Institute of Los Angeles. When the outgoing President and Abbot of both the Buddhist Studies Institute of Los Angeles and the International Buddhist Meditation Center of Los Angeles stepped down and retired Ven. Karuna Dharma, the previous President of the College, turned over control to the Five Mountain Zen Order. Ven. Wonji currently resides at Chùa Pháp Ấn (Dharma Seal Temple) which is located in Kansas City, Missouri.
Ven. Dr. Sunyananda Dharma (Proctor and Dean of Students)
Most Venerable Sunyananda Dharma is a multi-yana trained, fully authorized Buddhist Master. Initially ordained in the Korean Seon tradition of Zen Master Seung Sahn, Sunyananda later incardinated into the tradition of Zen Master Il Bung receiving the name Dok Sim (Sunim) from Zen Master Son Hae, as his only disciple. He has further trained extensively in the Lâm Tế Thiền lineage of Hòa Thượng Thích Thiên-Ân (the first Vietnamese Patriarch to the West), under his first western disciple Hòa Thượng Thích Ân Đức (Suhitananda Dharma Mahathero), receiving the transmission name of Thích Đức Tâm.
Having been first exposed to contemplative practice over twenty years ago, Sunyananda has experienced a wide range of religious traditions since his childhood (having spent ten years in Christian ministry school, and having trained as a Swami in the Bhakti yoga tradition), and has thus adopted a very pluralistic approach to engaging the dharma, and strives to foster an atmosphere where truly all are welcome to explore and integrate Buddhist teachings.
Sunyananda has studied and taught Buddhism and Buddhist Martial Arts throughout the world, lectured at numerous colleges and universities, in addition to appearing in and writing for various media outlets, and even representing his tradition at the White House.
Studying under the guidance of Ni Trưởng Thích Nữ Ân Từ (Dr. Karuna Dharma), Sunyananda earned his monastic ministerial Masters and Doctorate degrees at the Buddhist Studies Institute - Los Angeles, before being named head of the Institute (which was first founded in 1973 by Most Venerable Dr. Thích Thiên-Ân) in 2012.
In November of 2012 Most Ven. Sunyananda received the mind-seal of Inka (independent teaching authorization) from Master Wonji Dochong, as a Master of the Kong An (Jp. koan) tradition. Master Sunyananda has further trained in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition, and received the Bodhisattva vows directly from Dzogchen Master Lama Kunzang Tenzin (Surya Das), and in 2014 Master Đức Tâm received transmission of the Patriarchal hats and robes (Truyền Y Mão) from the President of the Vietnamese United Buddhist Churches, Hòa Thượng Thích Như Minh.
In April of 2015 Sunyananda was transmitted as 78th Generation Master, and the 4th Supreme Patriarch (宗正) of the Il Bung Zen tradition in the West, with the title “Most Venerable”. He further, in June of 2015 received the final "transmission" authorization of completion of study in the Kong An (Jp. koan) tradition.
Sunyananda has studied traditional life protection (martial) arts for slightly longer than Buddhism (having received his first introduction to the Dharma via that involvement), and has attained the title of Master in several of these arts, to include Bulkyo Mu Sool, Ryukyu Kempo, Hapkido, Tukkong Mu Sool and Taekwondo. He has taught seminars throughout the United States, and actively instructs Buddhist Life Protection Arts through programs in Kansas City, as the third Grandmaster of the Korean Buddhist Martial Arts Association, which was founded in 1968 at Jogyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea.
Outside of his day-to-day temple duties, Most Venerable Sunyananda serves as board President of the Kansas City Coalition for Welcoming Ministries and maintains an interesting blog at Errant Abbot.
Having been first exposed to contemplative practice over twenty years ago, Sunyananda has experienced a wide range of religious traditions since his childhood (having spent ten years in Christian ministry school, and having trained as a Swami in the Bhakti yoga tradition), and has thus adopted a very pluralistic approach to engaging the dharma, and strives to foster an atmosphere where truly all are welcome to explore and integrate Buddhist teachings.
Sunyananda has studied and taught Buddhism and Buddhist Martial Arts throughout the world, lectured at numerous colleges and universities, in addition to appearing in and writing for various media outlets, and even representing his tradition at the White House.
Studying under the guidance of Ni Trưởng Thích Nữ Ân Từ (Dr. Karuna Dharma), Sunyananda earned his monastic ministerial Masters and Doctorate degrees at the Buddhist Studies Institute - Los Angeles, before being named head of the Institute (which was first founded in 1973 by Most Venerable Dr. Thích Thiên-Ân) in 2012.
In November of 2012 Most Ven. Sunyananda received the mind-seal of Inka (independent teaching authorization) from Master Wonji Dochong, as a Master of the Kong An (Jp. koan) tradition. Master Sunyananda has further trained in the Tibetan Vajrayana tradition, and received the Bodhisattva vows directly from Dzogchen Master Lama Kunzang Tenzin (Surya Das), and in 2014 Master Đức Tâm received transmission of the Patriarchal hats and robes (Truyền Y Mão) from the President of the Vietnamese United Buddhist Churches, Hòa Thượng Thích Như Minh.
In April of 2015 Sunyananda was transmitted as 78th Generation Master, and the 4th Supreme Patriarch (宗正) of the Il Bung Zen tradition in the West, with the title “Most Venerable”. He further, in June of 2015 received the final "transmission" authorization of completion of study in the Kong An (Jp. koan) tradition.
Sunyananda has studied traditional life protection (martial) arts for slightly longer than Buddhism (having received his first introduction to the Dharma via that involvement), and has attained the title of Master in several of these arts, to include Bulkyo Mu Sool, Ryukyu Kempo, Hapkido, Tukkong Mu Sool and Taekwondo. He has taught seminars throughout the United States, and actively instructs Buddhist Life Protection Arts through programs in Kansas City, as the third Grandmaster of the Korean Buddhist Martial Arts Association, which was founded in 1968 at Jogyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea.
Outside of his day-to-day temple duties, Most Venerable Sunyananda serves as board President of the Kansas City Coalition for Welcoming Ministries and maintains an interesting blog at Errant Abbot.
Ven. Dr. Jishou Dharma (Dean of Buddhist Psychology)
Bishop Jishou Dharma, PsyD, PhD, is a Zen Teacher and Buddhist Monk in the Five Mountain Zen Order. He also serves as the Director of the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation.
Bp. Jishou Dharma ordained in 1991 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 in everyday life. Jishou Dharma began practicing with Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma in 2008 and, based upon his diligent practices during retreat, Jishou was consecrated a Bishop in 2011 with his receipt of inka.
Bp. Jishou Dharma holds a doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD), a doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy (PhD) from Buddha Dharma University, a master’s in business administration (MBA), and is board-certified in clinical psychology (ABPP). He runs a private psychology and consultation practice in Cincinnati, Ohio (www.psych-insights.com), and is core faculty in the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Union Institute & University. He is also Clinical/Research faculty at the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, and Volunteer Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at the UC College of Medicine.
Also, he is a fifth degree black belt in Ninjutsu (receiving the warrior name Watoshi), and once served briefly as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama of Tibet with his teacher, Stephen Jien Hayes.
Bp. Jishou Dharma has written 16 books:
Bp. Jishou Dharma ordained in 1991 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 in everyday life. Jishou Dharma began practicing with Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma in 2008 and, based upon his diligent practices during retreat, Jishou was consecrated a Bishop in 2011 with his receipt of inka.
Bp. Jishou Dharma holds a doctorate in clinical psychology (PsyD), a doctorate in Buddhist Philosophy (PhD) from Buddha Dharma University, a master’s in business administration (MBA), and is board-certified in clinical psychology (ABPP). He runs a private psychology and consultation practice in Cincinnati, Ohio (www.psych-insights.com), and is core faculty in the PsyD Program in Clinical Psychology at Union Institute & University. He is also Clinical/Research faculty at the UC Center for Integrative Health and Wellness, and Volunteer Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neurosciences at the UC College of Medicine.
Also, he is a fifth degree black belt in Ninjutsu (receiving the warrior name Watoshi), and once served briefly as a personal protection agent for the Dalai Lama of Tibet with his teacher, Stephen Jien Hayes.
Bp. Jishou Dharma has written 16 books:
- Mindfulness: Living through challenges and enriching your life in this moment
- Mindfulness in Clinical Practice
- Consultation Skills for Mental Health Professionals
- Building Competence in Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
- Perspectives on Spirituality and Religion in Psychotherapy
- Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
- An Overview of Buddhism
- An Introduction to Tendai
- An Introduction to Mikkyo
- The Lotus Sutra
- The Heart Sutra
- Kuji: The Nine Syllables
- Tendai Daily Practice Manual
- The Ritual of Fudo-Myo-O
- The Vows of Jizo and the Life-Span Sutra
- Japanese for the Martial Artist
Ven. Dr. Chong'an Dharma (Associate Dean of Buddhist Psychology)
Ven. Dr. Chong'an Dharma is a licensed psychologist in the state of Ohio (#6540). He runs a small private practice in Cleveland, Ohio (Robert B. Denton, Psy.D. LLC). He attended Case Western Reserve University, receiving his Bachelor's degree (B.A.) in Psychology. He received a master’s degree in Clinical and Counseling Psychology (M.A.) from Cleveland State University, and his doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from the School of Professional Psychology at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio.
Ven. Dr. Chong'an is on the advisory board for the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation at the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, OH, and for the Society for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation. He is a reviewer for the upcoming Journal of Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation. He is lead author of the chapter “Clinical Uses of Mindfulness” in Innovations in Clinical Practice (with Ven. Dr. Jishou) and third author of the book Mindfulness in Clinical Practice (with Dr. Sears and Dr. Tirsch) available through Professional Resource Press.
Outside of his studies in Psychology, he is a first degree black belt in To-Shin Do Ninjutsu and runs a small training group teaching martial arts in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He has studied the Eastern Wisdom traditions extensively, having traveled to a variety of training centers and monastic institutes around the United States and overseas. He is currently a Dharma Holder and Monastic (Sunim), receiving the ordination name of Chong'an (meaning "clear vision") following the Zen tradition of Zen Master Seung Sahn.
If you have a serious issue regarding the governance of BDU, please e-mail Ven. Dr. Chongan Dharma. However, as Ven. Dr. Chongan Dharma is extremely busy, please be sure your matter is urgent. If you can best be served by e-mailing your professor, or Student Affairs, please consider that method of contact first. Thank you!
Ven. Dr. Chong'an is on the advisory board for the Center for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation at the Union Institute and University in Cincinnati, OH, and for the Society for Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation. He is a reviewer for the upcoming Journal of Clinical Mindfulness & Meditation. He is lead author of the chapter “Clinical Uses of Mindfulness” in Innovations in Clinical Practice (with Ven. Dr. Jishou) and third author of the book Mindfulness in Clinical Practice (with Dr. Sears and Dr. Tirsch) available through Professional Resource Press.
Outside of his studies in Psychology, he is a first degree black belt in To-Shin Do Ninjutsu and runs a small training group teaching martial arts in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He has studied the Eastern Wisdom traditions extensively, having traveled to a variety of training centers and monastic institutes around the United States and overseas. He is currently a Dharma Holder and Monastic (Sunim), receiving the ordination name of Chong'an (meaning "clear vision") following the Zen tradition of Zen Master Seung Sahn.
If you have a serious issue regarding the governance of BDU, please e-mail Ven. Dr. Chongan Dharma. However, as Ven. Dr. Chongan Dharma is extremely busy, please be sure your matter is urgent. If you can best be served by e-mailing your professor, or Student Affairs, please consider that method of contact first. Thank you!
Rev. Dr. Songdo Prajna (Dean of Buddhist Chaplaincy)
Rev. Dr. Songdo Prajna is originally from Oxford, England, and has resided in the Pasadena area of Southern California since around 1990. He is ordained as a Brahmajala Priest with Five Mountain Zen Order. He has been practicing Zen since his late teens, having been introduced to Zen through the writings of the likes of Alan Watts, DT Suzuki and Christmas Humphries, and the teaching of the British Zen Master Douglas Harding. Additionally, he has maintained a parallel practice in the Christian faith, becoming a Third Order Franciscan when he was in his early 20s. Growing up as an Anglican, he transferred to the Episcopal faith in 1990, and then eventually became ordained as an Ecumenical (independent from Rome, liberal) Catholic Priest. Further, he also took precepts in the Soto Zen lineage of Maezumi Roshi (White Plum Sangha), receiving the Dharma name Tetsudo at the Zen Center of Los Angeles which he first attended in 1973. He is married with two children, a daughter who is an Episcopal Priest and a son who is a specialist in both medieval and modern literature. His wife is a university professor of English, a Sufi and an author of various books on poetry.
Rev. Songdo is a Board Certified Palliative, Hospice and Pediatric Chaplain, being certified both as a Christian and Buddhist chaplain; he ministers to patients in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas of Southern California. He holds a Doctorate in Psychology from University College London as well as an M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology. He continues to be very active in both Zen and Christian practice, and remains passionate about the parallels between Buddha's teachings and the Wisdom teachings of Jesus. He is currently the head priest at a liberal, inclusive independent Catholic Church in Hollywood, CA, and is in process of becoming abbot of a new Five Mountain Zen Order community he is currently establishing at the same location, known simply as Still Center. Rev. Songdo is a teacher and an author, and maintains various websites and blogs such as www.christbuddha.org, www.stillcenter.org and www.kids-rights.org.
Rev. Songdo is a Board Certified Palliative, Hospice and Pediatric Chaplain, being certified both as a Christian and Buddhist chaplain; he ministers to patients in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas of Southern California. He holds a Doctorate in Psychology from University College London as well as an M.Div. from Claremont School of Theology. He continues to be very active in both Zen and Christian practice, and remains passionate about the parallels between Buddha's teachings and the Wisdom teachings of Jesus. He is currently the head priest at a liberal, inclusive independent Catholic Church in Hollywood, CA, and is in process of becoming abbot of a new Five Mountain Zen Order community he is currently establishing at the same location, known simply as Still Center. Rev. Songdo is a teacher and an author, and maintains various websites and blogs such as www.christbuddha.org, www.stillcenter.org and www.kids-rights.org.
Ven. Do'an Prajna, M.Div. (Dean of Student Affairs)
Rev. Do’an Prajna is the Chief Abbot of Five Mountain Zen and the Head Teacher and Abbot of Lotus Heart Zen in Oneida, NY. In 2002 he took five precepts at the Providence Zen Center, part of the Kwan Um School of Zen in the lineage of Zen Master Seung Sahn. Do’an then practiced under the instruction of the late Myo Ji Sunim, JDPS, Abbot of the Chogyesa Zen Temple of New York in New York City. He assisted her with various temple related activities, such as teaching "Sunday" school to the temple youth, participating in Buddhist ceremonies, performing as Moktak Master and acting as temple office assistant. In 2003 he traveled to South Korea with Myo Ji Sunim visiting temples throughout Korea and attending the World is a Single Flower conference. One of the highlights of his trip was having the opportunity to sit with Zen Master Seung Sahn.
At the time of Do’an’s trip to Korea he was seriously considering becoming a monk and formalizing his training. While staying at Hwa Gye Sa in Seoul, Do’an had a conversation with a monk that made him realize that before he could commit to becoming a monk, he needed to spend time to study art, which had been a passion of his from childhood, and something he was struggling with at the time.
Do’an spent the next ten years studying and making a living through art. During this exploration, he spent some time at the Won Buddhist Temple of Manhattan teaching meditation to the congregation and contributing to the newsletter and giving occasional dharma talks. His artwork consisted of Asian brush work painting, abstract and representative style paintings, needle-felted sculpture and weaving. All of his artwork utilized meditative techniques and deep introspection.
However, in early 2014, Do’an realized it was time to bring his art and his Buddhist practice together. As a result, he enrolled in the Master's of Divinity Program at Buddha Dharma University and returned to teaching meditation classes and began leading a Zen practice group. He currently practices under the guidance of Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma.
At the time of Do’an’s trip to Korea he was seriously considering becoming a monk and formalizing his training. While staying at Hwa Gye Sa in Seoul, Do’an had a conversation with a monk that made him realize that before he could commit to becoming a monk, he needed to spend time to study art, which had been a passion of his from childhood, and something he was struggling with at the time.
Do’an spent the next ten years studying and making a living through art. During this exploration, he spent some time at the Won Buddhist Temple of Manhattan teaching meditation to the congregation and contributing to the newsletter and giving occasional dharma talks. His artwork consisted of Asian brush work painting, abstract and representative style paintings, needle-felted sculpture and weaving. All of his artwork utilized meditative techniques and deep introspection.
However, in early 2014, Do’an realized it was time to bring his art and his Buddhist practice together. As a result, he enrolled in the Master's of Divinity Program at Buddha Dharma University and returned to teaching meditation classes and began leading a Zen practice group. He currently practices under the guidance of Ven. Dr. Wonji Dharma.
