Rev. Hwasahn, SBN
Rev. Hwasahn LeBlanc (Sabunim, SBN)
Guiding Teacher
Rev. Hwasahn LeBlanc, (SBN, Sa Bu Nim) is a Dharma Master and Bodhisattva Priest (Bosal Sunim) in the Five Mountain Zen Order, and holds a Master of Philosophy in Buddhist Education. Sabunim received Inga (Japanese: Inka) from Rev. Yuanzhi on January 28, 2012 in a Ceremony at the Zen Center of Las Vegas.
Rev. Hwasahn began practicing Zen Buddhism in 1986 at the age of twenty-one under the renowned Japanese teacher Taizan Maezumi Roshi at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. To be able to pratice daily in a lay-monastic environment, Rev. Hwasahn became a resident at ZCLA for four years. The experience of training at ZCLA established Buddhism as a central focus in his life’s direction. Rev. Hwasahn received Soto lineage lay precepts (Jukai) from Maezumi Roshi; he also served as a staff member at ZCLA during his residency there. As a resident student at ZCLA, Rev. Hwasahn participated in regular retreats (Sesshin), including a three month long retreat (Ango). Rev. Hwasahn left residency at ZCLA in 1995 to devote himself full time to his study of Traditional Chinese medicine.
In 2002 Rev. Hwasahn continued his formal study of Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Jibong of the Golden Wind School of Zen, receiving from him 5 precepts in 2004 and 10 precepts in 2005. Zen Master Jibong was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s earliest American students and was for many years the guiding teacher for all Kwan Um School of Zen Centers on the west coast. Rev. Hwasahn was a founding board member of the Golden Wind Zen Center and served as executive director during his time there. Rev. Hwasahn went on to study Zen Buddhism with Rev. Yuánzhì, a long time student and Dharma heir of Zen Master Jibong. Rev. Hwasahn received 16 and 74 precepts with Rev. Yuánzhì in 2009; and he was installed by Rev. Yuánzhì as Abbot of Mountain Gate Zen center in March of 2009.
Rev. Hwasahn has been studying the martial arts since the age of 13, training in various styles of Japanese and Chinese martial arts. As a young man he served as an Uchi Deshi (live-in apprentice) under Steven Seagal Sensei, who was at that time teaching Aikido in Burbank California. Rev. Hwasahn later went on to become an indoor student of Sifu Lam Man Hok (Gary Lam); in 2005 Rev. Hwasahn was certified as a Wing Chun Sifu (Coach) by Sifu Lam.
Professionally Rev. Hwasahn is a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine (Licensed in 1996) and is a teacher of Wing Chun Kung Fu. Rev. Hwasahn has served as a Professor of both Acupuncture Anatomy and Herb Pharmacology & Chinese Nutrition. In 2006 Rev. Hwasahn founded Turning Point of Berkeley California; offering an array of alternative medicine services including: Acupuncture, Feldenkrais, Chinese herbal medicine, Medical Qigong therapy and TCM nutritional counseling.
Rev. Hwasahn receiving Inga from Rev. Yuánzhì, SSN - 01/28/12 - Zen Center of Las Vegas
Rev. Hwasahn and Rev. Yuánzhì - 01/28/12 Inga Ceremony - Zen Center of Las Vegas
Rev. Yuánzhì, SSN
Rev. Paul Yuánzhì Lynch (Soensanim, SSN)
Founding Teacher
Rev. Paul Yuánzhì Lynch, is a Zen Teacher in the Seung Sahn lineage of Zen Buddhism, formerly a student of Zen Master Ji Bong, He received Teaching Authorization from Zen Master Ji Bong in April of 2006 at the Golden Wind Zen Center in Long Beach, CA.
Rev. Yuánzhì began practicing Vipassana Buddhism in 1985 with Greg Penn, DD in Escondido, CA. He later met Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1989 and began practicing Zen in the Kwan Um School. In 1993 Paul founded and was installed as the Abbot of the newly formed Huntington Beach Zen Center. A few years later Zen Master Seung Sahn renamed the center to the Ocean Eyes Zen Center serving as its Abbot until 2007. Over the years Rev. Yuánzhì has traveled extensively and practiced at many Zen Centers both inside and outside of the Kwan Um School. Since 1996 he has traveled to China, Korea, Singapore, Thailand and Cambodia many times on pilgrimages to many Son, Chán, and Theravada Temples. Rev. Yuánzhì founded the Five Mountain Sangha in 2008 and serves as the Guiding Teacher. He is a poet and author and has written many books on Zen and Poetry.
