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About Us

The Puget Sound Zen Center is dedicated to fostering Buddhist wisdom and compassion through the practice and study of Rinzai Zen Buddhism.

From its location in the Salish Sea region of western North America, the Puget Sound Zen Center home temple provides a quiet space in a noisy world where the diverse and inclusive Sangha and the wider community will gather and practice for years to come.

Our Sangha

The Puget Sound Zen Center is a community dedicated to practicing Zen, to teaching and living Buddhist principles, to supporting a vibrant sangha, and to serving our wider community.

Wherever you are in your spiritual practice you are welcome here.

Located on Vashon Island and West Seattle, the center is part of the life of those communities, while serving the wider Puget Sound area.  Our community is open to all regardless of age, ethnicity, religious affiliation, disability, or gender identity, or sexual orientation.

We hold practice daily and schedule a number of retreats annually. We also offer dharma study classes, discussion groups, community service opportunities, a precepts program and an ordination program. We are members of the Interfaith Council to Prevent Homelessness and the Northwest Dharma Association.

Some at the Zen Center have been practicing Zen for decades and some are just starting out. Some attend services with other spiritual communities in addition to Zen.

Wherever you are in your spiritual practice you are welcome here.

Meet Our Teachers & Community Leaders

The Puget Sound Zen Center is guided by dedicated teachers, staff, and community members who help cultivate a welcoming and supportive space for practice. From offering teachings and leading meditation to organizing events and maintaining our Sangha, these individuals play a vital role in sustaining our community.

Learn more about the people who help bring PSZC to life.

Teacher

Teacher

Koshin Christopher Cain

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Associate Teacher

Associate Teacher

Eko Jeff Kelley

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Lay Ordained

Lay Ordained

Shuko Sissel Johannessen

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Lay Ordained

Lay Ordained

Seizan Stephen Black

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Lay Ordained

Lay Ordained

Anshin David Steel

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Chaplain

Chaplain

Jim Chiko Hunziker

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Committees:
Serving the Sangha

The Puget Sound Zen Center thrives through the dedication of its committees, which help support and sustain our community. From organizing events and maintaining our space to guiding leadership and outreach efforts, these volunteer-driven groups ensure that PSZC remains a vibrant place for practice and connection.

Learn more about our committees and how you can get involved.

  • Diane Sweetman
  • Kevin Hoffberg

The Communications Committee publicizes the events and activities of PSZC with the goal of reaching as many potential stakeholders and attendees as possible. It manages the website, print communication, ads and flyers. Contact: pr@pszc.org.

  • Chair: Kevin Hoffberg
  • Lynda Fitzpatrick
  • Chad Bishop
  • Kara Hill
  • Laurie Bardill
  • Natalie Padilla
  • Ryushi Todd Walker
  • Amanda Knox
  • Christopher Robinson
  • Seizan Stephen Black – Design

The purpose of the Ethics Committee is to ensure the ethical conduct of members and teachers in all programs and activities. It is on-call to address any ethical issues that may arise for the sangha, and to provide a yearly ethics review. Email ethics@pszc.org to contact the committee with an ethical concern or issue, or for more information.

  • Chair: Sheila Eckman
  • Rachael Osborn
  • Susan Rogers

Ethics Committee Charter

Teacher Ethics Policy & Process

The Board and Ethics Committee voted in October 2016 to enact a Code of Ethics and Grievance and Reconciliation Policy for sangha members.

The Membership Committee takes care of sangha members and strives to encourage individuals who are interested in the practice, activities and work of PSZC to join as sustaining members. We welcome people to the sangha and express appreciation to sangha members. Contact: membership@pszc.org.

  • Chair: Diane Schairer
  • Cynthia Perkins
  • Stevee Duber
  • Elizabeth Nelson
  • Joyce Hunziker
  • Jean Berolzheimer
  • Lin Koch
  • Sherry Villanueva
  • Suzanne Hubbard

The Programs Committee is responsible for developing the annual program calendar and subsequent monthly schedule of events and activities. Anyone is welcome at our meetings, and ideas for new Zen Center programs are always welcome anytime. Contact: programs@pszc.org.

  • Chair: Shuko Sissel Johannessen (since 2021)
  • Stephen Dockter
  • Rachael Osborn
  • Elizabeth Nelson
  • Diane Sweetman

Created in 2022, the Steering Committee serves to maintain the vision of the Abbot, Board and Sangha in developing the Zen Center and grounds. It coordinates the efforts of the Building Committee and the Grounds Committee so the overall result is comprehensive and meets the PSZC mission, goals and values.

  • Chair: Eko Jeff Kelley
  • Lidunn Overdahl Cain
  • Karen Hedlund
  • Sheila Eckman
  • Judy Tweet
  • Kara Hill
  • Josh Lawler
  • Diane Schairer
  • Jean Spohn
  • Jeff Skolnick
  • Joanne Loeliger
  • Junko Belcourt
  • Laurie Bardill

The Fundraising Committee raises funds to supplement PSZC’s income and meet the annual budget.

  • Chair: Gerrit van Roekel
  • Jeff Skolnick
  • Jude O’Reilly
  • Kimm Kambak
  • Elizabeth D’Agostino
  • Jen Spinney
  • John Sweetman
  • Anshin David Steel

Committees:
Serving the Sangha

The Puget Sound Zen Center thrives through the dedication of its committees, which help support and sustain our community. From organizing events and maintaining our space to guiding leadership and outreach efforts, these volunteer-driven groups ensure that PSZC remains a vibrant place for practice and connection.

Learn more about our committees and how you can get involved.

  • Diane Sweetman
  • Kevin Hoffberg

The Communications Committee publicizes the events and activities of PSZC with the goal of reaching as many potential stakeholders and attendees as possible. It manages the website, print communication, ads and flyers. Contact: pr@pszc.org.

  • Chair: Kevin Hoffberg
  • Lynda Fitzpatrick
  • Chad Bishop
  • Kara Hill
  • Laurie Bardill
  • Natalie Padilla
  • Ryushi Todd Walker
  • Amanda Knox
  • Christopher Robinson
  • Seizan Stephen Black – Design

The purpose of the Ethics Committee is to ensure the ethical conduct of members and teachers in all programs and activities. It is on-call to address any ethical issues that may arise for the sangha, and to provide a yearly ethics review. Email ethics@pszc.org to contact the committee with an ethical concern or issue, or for more information.

  • Chair: Sheila Eckman
  • Rachael Osborn
  • Susan Rogers

Ethics Committee Charter

Teacher Ethics Policy & Process

The Board and Ethics Committee voted in October 2016 to enact a Code of Ethics and Grievance and Reconciliation Policy for sangha members.

The Membership Committee takes care of sangha members and strives to encourage individuals who are interested in the practice, activities and work of PSZC to join as sustaining members. We welcome people to the sangha and express appreciation to sangha members. Contact: membership@pszc.org.

  • Chair: Diane Schairer
  • Cynthia Perkins
  • Stevee Duber
  • Elizabeth Nelson
  • Joyce Hunziker
  • Jean Berolzheimer
  • Lin Koch
  • Sherry Villanueva
  • Suzanne Hubbard

The Programs Committee is responsible for developing the annual program calendar and subsequent monthly schedule of events and activities. Anyone is welcome at our meetings, and ideas for new Zen Center programs are always welcome anytime. Contact: programs@pszc.org.

  • Chair: Shuko Sissel Johannessen (since 2021)
  • Stephen Dockter
  • Rachael Osborn
  • Elizabeth Nelson
  • Diane Sweetman

Created in 2022, the Steering Committee serves to maintain the vision of the Abbot, Board and Sangha in developing the Zen Center and grounds. It coordinates the efforts of the Building Committee and the Grounds Committee so the overall result is comprehensive and meets the PSZC mission, goals and values.

  • Chair: Eko Jeff Kelley
  • Lidunn Overdahl Cain
  • Karen Hedlund
  • Sheila Eckman
  • Judy Tweet
  • Kara Hill
  • Josh Lawler
  • Diane Schairer
  • Jean Spohn
  • Jeff Skolnick
  • Joanne Loeliger
  • Junko Belcourt
  • Laurie Bardill

The Fundraising Committee raises funds to supplement PSZC’s income and meet the annual budget.

  • Chair: Gerrit van Roekel
  • Jeff Skolnick
  • Jude O’Reilly
  • Kimm Kambak
  • Elizabeth D’Agostino
  • Jen Spinney
  • John Sweetman
  • Anshin David Steel
Food Bank Garden

Food Bank Garden

Dirt, sweat, and growing things – we love it. Thanks to the passionate and robust efforts of Shuko Sissel Johannessen the PSZC now supports an impressive vegetable garden for the Vashon Food Bank.

Generally Shuko and others are in the garden every Tuesday and Friday morngings from 9:00-11:00 AM. People are invited to stop by then or work an hour whenever they have time. There are a few tools on site, but feel free to bring your own.

Please contact Shuko Sissel Johannessen at shuko@pszc.org for directions to the garden or to discuss ideas for the garden or any questions you might have.

Puget Sound Zen Center
Puget Sound Zen Center - Zendo
  • 18005 Vashon Highway SW
    Vashon Island, WA 98070
West Seattle – Monday night meditation
  • Fauntleroy Church
    United Church of Christ
    9140 California Ave SW
    Seattle, WA 98136
    4th Floor Chapel, Room 402
Our Mailing Address
  • Puget Sound Zen Center
    PO Box 2644
    Vashon, WA 98070
Puget Sound Zen Center - Zendo
  • 18005 Vashon Highway SW
    Vashon Island, WA 98070
West Seattle – Monday night meditation
  • Fauntleroy Church
    United Church of Christ
    9140 California Ave SW
    Seattle, WA 98136
    4th Floor Chapel, Room 402
Our Mailing Address
  • Puget Sound Zen Center
    PO Box 2644
    Vashon, WA 98070
Puget Sound Zen Center
  • Copoyright © 2025 Puget Sound Zen Center. All Rights Reserved.
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Teacher

Koshin Christopher Cain is Abbot of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Koshin was born in 1965 and grew up in London, England, and Raleigh, North Carolina.

He graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, with a BA in American Studies in 1987. In 1990 he moved to Mt. Baldy Zen Center in California, he ordained in 1991, and trained at Mt. Baldy as a monk from 1991 to 1999.

In 1999 Joshu Roshi made him an Osho, or teacher. From 1999 to 2002 he served as Vice-abbot of Mt. Baldy Zen Center. In 2003 he moved to Vashon Island and became the founding teacher of the Puget Sound Zen Center. Since 2009, Koshin has been the formal teacher of the Rinzai Zen Center in Oslo.

He is responsible for the direction of the Zen practice there, and visits the center twice a year. Koshin is married to Soshin Lidunn Cain, and they have a son, Lars, born in 2001, and daughter Eva, born in 2004.

Listen to Talks by the Abbot
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Associate Teacher

Eko Jeff Kelley began practicing Zen in 1994 at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, MN. He practiced there for fifteen years, first with Dosho Mike Port and then with Byakuren Judith Ragir. He was ordained as a Soto Zen priest by Byakuren in May of 2008 in the lineage of Dainin Katagiri Roshi.

Jeff moved to Seattle in 2009 and began leading the Seattle Soto Zen sangha. In 2013, he received formal Dharma Transmission from Byakuren. He stepped down from leadership at Seattle Soto Zen down in 2019.

Jeff and his wife, Bonnie, moved to Vashon Island in 2022. An on-going friendship with Koshin Cain had resulted in invitations over the years to give talks at Puget Sound Zen Center. The move to Vashon naturally led Jeff to find a practice at PSZC where he continues to offer teachings.

Jeff had a twenty five year career as an architect in Minnesota. He has worked extensively with prison meditation groups, first in Minnesota and then in Washington. He has two adult children.

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Lay Ordained

Shuko Sissel Johannessen moved to Vashon from Minneapolis in 2004, with her two children. She had just become interested in Zen practice, and was so happy to find a new little Zen Center on Vashon.

She has been practicing with the Puget Sound Zen Center for the 20 years since then with Abbot Koshin Chris Cain. She received the precepts (jukai) in 2016 and lay ordination in 2020. She has served in many capacities at the Zen Center: zendo officer, Programs committee and Board member, gardener, and dogged traveller on the Way.

Sangha members introduced her to caregiving early on, and she still loves her work with Island people- the elderly and those on hospice. Her previous life work was in archaeology, specializing for many years in research in paleoethnobotany. She has two children and two grandchildren.

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Lay Ordained

Seizan Stephen Black studied Art, Language and culture at Université de Toulouse Au Mirail,Toulouse, France, and Art and Design at the New School of Visual Concepts. He is a graduate of Whitworth University. He ran his own design firm—Studio Black—for over 40 years, and specialized in wine branding for clients around the world.

Seizan has been practicing Zen for about 20 years. He took the Precepts in 2017, and was lay ordained as a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk in 2021. He did nine months of monastic training at Bodhi Manda Zen Center in NM. He first moved to the island in 1994, where he currently lives with his Cat companion—Frank Martin.

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Lay Ordained

Anshin David Steel’s intro to Zen began while attending the University of Washington, 1958-61. Through the years his teachers have been Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn, Thich Nhat Hanh, Joshu Sasaki, and Koshin Chris Cain.

He moved to Vashon Island in 1970 and through the aughts practiced Zen with John Candy, Mary Belshaw and others upstairs at the Blue Heron Art Center. At the same time time, islander Jeff Tipp introduced him to Zen Master Seung Sahn. He and his sweetheart Kaj Wyn Berry did mindfulness training precepts with Thich Nhat Hanh at Deer Park Monastery in Escondido, California.

In 2003 David and Wyn joined the Puget Sound Zen Center, taking precepts in 2016. Anshin was lay ordained by Koshin in 2020. He teaches and leads qigong at the Zen Center.

Anshin has a son and daughter (deceased). He lives and practices at Seal Creek Camp Hermitage on the shores of Colvos Passage, Vashon Island.

He was a copywriter/creative supervisor with Cole Weber, opening his own agency Hinton & Steel Advertising in 1976. He retired in 1989. For 20 years, he has worked as a caregiver and sea kayak instructor, guide and outfitter, retiring in 2012.

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Chaplain

Jim Chiko Hunziker, a long-time PSZC member, serves in the role of PSZC Chaplain. He is a graduate of the Upaya Zen Center’s Chaplaincy program and is certified as the Vashon Island Police and Fire Chaplain.

Although the role is evolving, it currently consists of providing support to sangha members when they experience painful or traumatic events, such as the loss of a job, the death of someone close, the loss of a relationship, a distressing medical diagnosis, or bad news of one sort or another. In such situations, having someone to talk to and support you as you process the event can be comforting.

Jim is knowledgeable about the diagnosis and treatment of illness. He works closely with Sangha Care, and it is possible you will receive a call from him after you have contacted Sangha Care. Please do not hesitate to contact him directly if you have experienced something distressing and would like to talk with someone. Meetings with Jim are confidential.

Chaplain@pszc.org

(206) 228-2101

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