The Dancing Crane Zen Center practices Zen in the lineage of the Sanbo Kyodan (Three Treasures) school of Zen, a hybrid of Soto and Rinzai Zen.

Japanese Zen master Harada Daiun Sogaku (1871-1961) received dharma transmission in both the Soto and Rinzai traditions. Harada’s student and dharma heir, Yasutani Haku’un (1885-1973) formally founded Sanbo Kyodan in 1954.

Western Zen teachers in the Harada-Yasutani Zen lineage include Philip Kapeau, Robert Aitken, and Taizan Maezumi – though each of these broke away from Sanbo Kyodan and founded independent Zen schools.

Valerie Forstman, Sanbo Zen Associate Zen Master, is a guiding teacher at Dancing Crane, and offers regular dokusan via Skype for those who wish. She also leads two sesshin a year at the nearby Gainesville Retreat Center, which are regularly attended by many Dancing Crane members.

Sanbo Kyodan Zen teachers in North America presently include:

Brian Chisolm, Durham, NC
Valerie Forstman, Dallas, TX
Ruben Habito, Dallas, TX
David Loy, Cincinnati, OH
Elaine MacInnes, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Gregory Mayers, Burlingame, CA
Maria Teresa Pineda, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Kathleen Pruitt, Seattle, WA
Joan Riek, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
Roselyn Stone, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

See the Sanbo Kyodan web page: click here.