Anne Seisen Saunders was born in Sheridan, WY on April 29, 1948. She received her BA in Biochemistry from UC Berkeley in 1970. In 1976, she started practicing Zen Buddhism formally with Taizan Maezumi, Roshi at Zen Center of Los Angeles. Soon after, she received Tokudo, becoming a priest in the Soto Zen Lineage, and ultimately completed her training and received Shiho (full Dharma transmission) from Roshi, Bernie Tetsugen Glassman in 1996. ¿ In 1998, she became co-abbot of Yokoji Zen Mountain Center in Idyllwild, CA with then Sensei, Charles Tenshin Fletcher. A couple years later, in 2000, she left Yokoji to found Sweetwater Zen Center in National City, CA, where she served as abbot until 2025. She received Inka from Roshi, Bernie Glassman in 2007, and was appointed Kokusaifukyoshi (official Soto Zen teacher) by the Japanese Soto Headquarters in April of 2009. Seisen Roshi also served as president of the White Plum Asanga (community of Zen teachers in Taizan Maezumi, Roshi's lineage) for over a decade. ¿ Seisen Roshi now lives in Ensenada, Mexico with her two dogs, Bruno and Chanel. ¿ MORE ABOUT SEISEN ROSHI: Past treasurer the Kuroda Institute ¿ President/Secretary/Treasurer of White Plum Asanga ¿ Member of American Zen Teachers Association ¿ Co-founder of Prison Meditation Project ¿ Board member of Xara Garden School (a charter school in San Diego) ¿ Member of Friends of Friendship Park ¿
