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.
Located on Vashon Island, the center is part of the life of the island while serving the wider Puget Sound area. Starting in January 2020 you will be able to find us in West Seattle as well. 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 or other forms of meditations 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
(206) 228-2101.
The Board of Directors works with the Abbot, Committees, and the sangha to create an overall vision and goals for the Zen Center, and oversees the carrying out of these goals.
Email: board@pszc.org | A copy of our bylaws can be found here.
Josh joined the PSZC shortly after he and his family moved to Vashon in late 2017. He is the father of two boys—who sometimes join him for sits. Josh is a scientist and professor at the University of Washington where he studies conservation and climate change. He has been meditating since 2003 and is grateful for the balance his practice has brought to his life and the support of the PSZC sangha.
Gerrit spent his childhood in Holland. He studied to be an Agricultural engineer. He went on UN missions to Kenya and Tanzania. For the Sangha Gerrit records the dharma talks and takes care of our social media. He lives with his family, dogs and chickens.
Judy Twedt began sitting in 2007 but it wasn't until joining the Puget Sound Zen Center in 2016 that she found a regular practice and a sangha. She credits silent meditation retreats for helping her discern several life-shaping decisions. Prior to joining the board, she was a member of the programs committee, volunteered in the food bank garden, and is still active in the children's program. She recently finished a PhD at the University of Washington, and lives on Vashon Island with her toddler and a cat.
Laurie first came to the Zen Center for the 2008 all-night sit and keeps coming back. She lives on the mainland and works in a library near home. She became interested in Buddhism when a book group she participated in read a Buddhist book. All the Buddhist books said to meditate, and the Puget Sound Zen Center gives her many chances to do that. She also likes hiking, gardening, art, and classical music.
Cynthia began studying Buddhism with Seattle Insight Meditation 25 years ago. She continued in the Vipassana tradition until five years ago, when her desire for a local, close community of other practitioners brought her to the Zen Center. Before retirement, she worked in marketing/public relations and taught yoga. Now, she walks her two Scotties, reads a lot and plays a decent game of ping pong.
Read the Board’s Reflections on the Legacy of Racism here
In February 2014 the Board announced its decision to end PSZC’s affiliation with Rinzai-ji, Inc. A copy of the letter announcing that decision can be found here
Building Leadership
Diane Sweetman
Kevin Hoffberg
Communications Committee
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
Ethics Committee
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. The ethics committee charter is here, and the teacher ethics policy and process document is here.
The Board and Ethics Committee voted in October 2016 to enact a Code of Ethics and Grievance and Reconciliation Policy for sangha members. It can be found here.
Chair: Sheila Eckman
Rachael Osborn
Susan Rogers
Membership Committee (including Sangha Care)
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
Programs Committee
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
Steering Committee
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
Tech Team
Judy Tweet
Kara Hill
Josh Lawler
West Seattle
Diane Schairer
Jean Spohn
Jeff Skolnick
Joanne Loeliger
Junko Belcourt
Laurie Bardill
Fundraising Committee
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
Grounds Leadership
John Sweetman
Anshin David Steel
Weddings and funeral officiating by the Abbot are included as part of Zen Center membership. Reasonable travel reimbursements are to be paid directly to the Abbot.
For nonmembers, wedding and funeral officiating by the Abbot is offered at a rate to be determined by the Abbot plus travel expenses, paid directly to the Abbot, and is subject to the Abbot’s overall availability.
For both members and non-members, pre-marital counseling by the Abbot is offered at a rate of $50 an hour, to be paid directly to the Abbot.
On Monday evenings we hold services at the Fauntleroy Church in West Seattle.
United Church of Christ
9140 California Ave SW
Seattle, WA 98136-2556
4th floor chapel, room 402
PO Box 2644
Vashon WA 98070
A place for committees and the board to store documents and work in progress. This page is password protected. Email pr@pszc.org to obtain password.
