{"id":41768,"date":"2023-08-30T17:07:46","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T00:07:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/?p=41768"},"modified":"2023-08-30T17:46:52","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T00:46:52","slug":"zen-teacher-teshin-matthew-sweger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/2023\/08\/zen-teacher-teshin-matthew-sweger.html","title":{"rendered":"Zen Teacher Teshin Matthew Sweger"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
<\/a><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
I am so glad to be able to announce that I will be giving the Reverend Teshin Matthew Sweger Inka Shomei<\/a>, the final authorization within the lineage I received from Roshi John Tarrant, at the culmination of a week long sesshin which will be held at the North Carolina Zen Center<\/a>, on the 22nd of October, 2023.<\/p>\n
Teshin currently serves as teacher and resident priest of the North Carolina Zen Center in Pittsboro, North Carolina.<\/p>\n
He began a Zen practice under the guidance of one of his professors, Paul LaChance, who was a long time student of Roshi Philip Kapleau while an undergraduate at Frostburg State in Maryland. In 1994 Teshin attended a formal introduction to Zen practice workshop in Rochester. That summer Teshin returned for a three month residency. After graduating college and working for a year, he moved to Rochester to enter their formal residential training program. He worked principally with the abbot, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.<\/p>\n
In 2000 he left formal residency, began studying with roshis Lawson Sachter & Sunya Kjolhede, and began working as a carpenter. In 2003, he accompanied his teachers as they moved to Asheville to begin the Windhorse Zen Community. Teshin worked full time on staff. In 2004 he ordained as a priest within the Rochester Zen lineage. In 2010 he began sitting sesshin with Sensei Sevan Ross, who at the time while a successor to Kjolhede Roshi, had also completed koan work with me in the full Harada Yasutani curriculum, and who I gave Denkai and Denbo in the Soto tradition. In 2016, after completing the full traditional curriculum, Teshin received Denkai and Denbo transmission from Sensei Sevan Ross.<\/p>\n
In 2017 the board of the North Carolina Zen Center invited him to become their resident teacher and priest.<\/p>\n
In addition to his undergraduate degree, Teshin holds a masters in Counseling. And maintains a private psychotherapy practice. He is married to Dana Lundquist,<\/a> and they have a daughter who guarantee his training will be continuing\u2026<\/p>\n
He has continued to sharpen his eye and broaden his approach visiting with and studying with a number of the signal teachers of our time and place.<\/p>\n
Teshin and I have been investigating the great matter together in formal and informal ways for some years now. I have witnessed a wise and compassionate teacher, a friend, and someone I am proud to formally acknowledge as a senior teacher within our forming North American Zen.<\/p>\n
Please keep us in your thoughts, prayers, and dedications as we move together in this sweet dance on the intimate way.<\/p>\n