Anne Seisen Saunders

Anne Seisen Saunders is a Soto Zen Roshi at Sweetwater Zen Center in National City, California. Seisen is a student of the late Taizan Maezumi Roshi and received Shiho and Inka from Tetsugen Bernie Glassman Roshi, co-founder of the Greyston Mandala and the Zen Peacemaker Order.
Biography
Seisen was born in Sheridan, Wyoming on 29 April 1948 and grew up in Billings, Montana. She began practicing Zen circa 1976. Before coming to Zen practice Seisen earned a Bachelor's degree in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley in 1970. In the early 70's, she worked in the biology department at UCSD.
Seisen began living and working at the Zen Center of Los Angeles in 1976. While at ZCLA, she founded the sewing room, served as tenzo and worked in the administration. With Maezumi Roshi as Seisen's teacher, she took Jukai in February of 1978 and then tokudo (priest ordination) in January of 1982.
Seisen also worked in the administration at
Yokoji Zen Mountain Center, a traditional monastery and practice center in Idyllwild, California. In October 1996, Seisen received Shiho from Roshi Bernie Glassman. While at Yokoji, Seisen (then under the name Fletcher) served for four years as the co-abbot with Charles Tenshin Fletcher on 17 May 1998.
Seisen unfolded of her vision for an urban residential Zen practice community by founding Sweetwater Zen Center in January 2000. She received Inka from Roshi Bernie Glassman in February 2007 and appointed Kokosaifukyoshi (Soto Zen teacher) by Japanese Soto Headquarters April 2009. She now serves as Abbot and Roshi at Sweetwater Zen Center.
Seisen is actively engaged in social programs and groups. She is a founding teacher of The Prison Meditation Project (PMP) with Rick Avery. PMP is a non-profit volunteer program, supporting the Chaplain, at RJ Donovan State Prison. Seisen also participates in international border harmony with Friends of Friendship Park. Seisen is a board member of the Xara Garden School (a charter school in San Diego, California). She worked as Treasurer with the Kuroda Institute. She also served as Treasurer and Secretary of the White Plum Asanga.
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