Paul Lynch, JDPSN
Guiding Teacher

Pŏpsanim (Paul's title) has been practicing Buddhist meditation for more than twenty five years, and with the sanction and encouragement of Zen Master Sŭngsan, founded the Huntington Beach Zen Center on August 14th of 1993 where he was installed as Abbot of the Zen Center by Zen Master Sŭngsan during the opening ceremony. Pŏpsanim faithfully served in this roll for fourteen years from 1993 until the fall of 2007. 

Throughout the late 1980's and into the early 1990's Pŏpsanim had the opportunity to practice with Zen Master Sŭngsan; and although his grand-teacher was retired from formal teaching at the time, the monks at the LA Zen Center would frequently talk him into doing kōan interviews with the students during his frequent long stays in Los Angeles. During those years his primary teacher was Moore, JDPSN who later became Zen Master Jibong; however, Paul traveled extensively sitting retreats with many of the senior teachers in the Kwan Um School of Zen.

Pŏpsanim is a Poet and Author and was encouraged by Zen Master Sŭngsan to write poetry and was counseled by his grand teacher in the proper use and function of Zen Poetry in practice and teaching. Paul, JDPSN has written many books; including Cold Heart Thawing, a collection of his earlier poetry, Peering Through the Cloud, a collection of his latter poetry, and A Path to Christ Consciousness was co-authored with his long time Dharma friend Robert Harwood. Pŏpsanim has also written The Ocean of Zen - a Practice Guide to Sŏn Buddhism, Zen Liturgy - Korean Sŏn Practice Forms, Buddhist Precepts - a Guide for Western Buddhist Lay Practitioners  along with Translations of The Barrier That Has No Gate, Wú Mén Guān  and The Blue Cliff Record. These books are available from the Zen Center, at Before Thought Publications or any of your local booksellers. If you'd like to read some of Pŏpsanim's work visit his blog site at Zen Mirror and Chán Poetry.