Danan Henry

Danan Henry
TitleRoshi
Personal
Born1939 (age 84–85)
ReligionZen Buddhism
LineageHarada-Yasutani
EducationUniversity of California, Berkeley
Senior posting
Based inZen Center of Denver (formerly)
PredecessorPhilip Kapleau
Robert Baker Aitken
SuccessorKarin Ryuku Kempe, Peggy Metta Sheehan, Ken Tetsuzan Morgareidge, Rafe Jnan Martin, Hoag Holmgren
Websitewww.zencenterofdenver.org/

Michael Danan Henry (born 1939) is an American Roshi in the Harada-Yasutani school of Zen Buddhism, a sect derived from both the Rinzai and Sōtō traditions of Japanese Zen, practicing in the Diamond Sangha lineage of Robert Baker Aitken. The founding teacher of the Zen Center of Denver, Henry received Dharma transmission from Philip Kapleau Roshi[1] in 1989 and, after many years of subsequent training with Robert Aitken Roshi, was recognized as a Diamond Sangha teacher and master by Aitken.[2][3][4] Danan Henry Roshi created and implemented the Monastery Without Walls training program; the Lotus in the Flame Lay Order; and the Every Minute Zen mindfulness training program as abbot and spiritual director of the Zen Center of Denver.[5]

On September 12, 2010, Danan Roshi conferred Dharma transmission and appointment of abbacy to Karin Kempe, Ken Morgareidge, and Peggy Sheehan, and stepped aside as abbot of the Zen Center of Denver.[6] Danan Roshi has lived at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center in Jemez Springs, NM since 2021 and is the teacher of the Old Bones Sangha, a small group of mostly senior students who meet periodically in person for retreats.

On June 30, 2016, Danan Roshi conferred Dharma transmission to Rafe Martin in a public ceremony at the Rochester Zen Center.[7]

On June 18, 2023, Danan Roshi conferred Dharma transmission to Hoag Holmgren in a public ceremony at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center.[8]

On June 24, 2023, Danan Roshi identified the following long-time students as associate teachers: John Guernsey, David Harris, Steve Hughes, and James Marshall. [9]

  1. ^ "A Place of Refuge". Zen Center of Denver. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  2. ^ Honolulu Diamond Sangha 2010.
  3. ^ Ford 2006, p. 159.
  4. ^ Prebish 1999, p. 19.
  5. ^ "Our Teacher and Lineage". Auckland Zen Center. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Lineage – Zen Center of Denver".
  7. ^ "An Evening with Zen Teacher, Author, and Storyteller Rafe Martin". Zen Desert Sangha. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
  8. ^ Manda, Bodhi (July 2023). "Old Bones Sesshin and Transmission Ceremony". Bodhi Manda Zen Center. Retrieved November 26, 2023.
  9. ^ Manda, Bodhi (July 2023). "Old Bones Sesshin and Transmission Ceremony". Bodhi Manda Zen Center. Retrieved November 26, 2023.