Rev. Dōch’ŏng Lynch, JDPSN
Guiding Teacher
Paul Dōch’ŏng Lynch (b. 1957), is a Zen Sensei in the Seung Sahn lineage of Zen Buddhism, formerly a student of Zen Master Ji Bong, now engaged in advanced studies with James Ishmael Ford Roshi, a Zen Master in the Harada/Yasutani Lineage of Japanese Buddhism. He received Inka from Zen Master Ji Bong in April of 2006 at the Golden Wind Zen Center in Long Beach, CA.
Dōch’ŏng 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 Paul 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, Ch’an, and Theravada Temples. Paul 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.
L
Greg LeBlanc, SDPS
Abbot
Gregory Daebo LeBlanc, SDPS (Sondok Popsa) is a senior Dharma
teacher and Bodhisattva Priest (Ven. Bosal Popsa) in the Five
Mountain Sangha. Gregory began practicing Zen Buddhism in 1986 at
the age of 21 under the renowned Japanese teacher
Taizan
Maezumi Roshi at the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Gregory became a
resident of ZCLA, practicing daily in a lay-monastic environment.
The experience of training at ZCLA established Buddhism as a central
focus in his life’s direction. Gregory received Soto lineage lay
precepts (Jukai) from Maezumi Roshi; he was also a staff member at
ZCLA during his residency there. As a resident student at ZCLA,
Gregory participated in many retreats every year (Sesshin) and
participated in a three month long retreat (Ango).
Gregory has been a devoted martial artist his entire adult life, 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. Gregory served as an attendant to Steven Seagal Sensei 24/7 and managed his Dojo for two years. Gregory later went on to become an indoor disciple of Sifu Lam Man Hoc (Gary Lam), becoming his first student ever to receive teaching certification (Sifu ranking) in his style of Wing Chun Kung Fu.
Gregory continued his formal study of Zen Buddhism with Zen Master Robert Jibong Moore of the Golden Wind school of Zen. Zen Master Jibong was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn’s earliest American students. Gregory currently studies Zen Buddhism under Paul Dochong Lynch, JDPSN; Paul is a Dharma heir of Zen Master Jibong. Gregory was a founding board member and served as the executive director of the Golden Wind Zen Center. He was installed as the Abbot of Mountain Gate Zen center in Oakland California by Dochong Lynch, JDPSN in March of 2009.
Professionally Gregory is a practitioner of Oriental medicine (L.Ac.) and is a teacher of Chinese martial arts and Daoist Yoga. Gregory holds a master’s degree in Oriental medicine from SAMRA University, graduating in the top of his class. He is certified in Tien Tao Chi Kung and has over the years studied was various Qi Gong masters. Gregory has served as a college teacher of both acupuncture anatomy and herb pharmacology & Chinese nutrition. In 2009 Gregory founded Turning Point of Berkeley California, an institute dedicated to bringing the wisdom of Asian mind-body healing techniques to the public.