Our Teachers
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Arthur Wells Roshi
Arthur received Dharma Transmission in 2012 from Ross Bolleter Roshi. Arthur leads the Christchurch Diamond Sangha Zen group that meets on Monday evenings. Arthur leads retreats with Mary Jaksch Roshi, Sean Weaver Roshi, and Shona Pierce Sensei.
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Sean Weaver Roshi
Sean received Dharma Transmission from Arthur Wells Roshi in 2025 after 35 years of Zen training. Sean teaches with the Christchurch Diamond Sangha Zen group, and co-leads Sesshin with Mary Jaksch Roshi, Arthur Wells Roshi and Shona Pierce Sensei.
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Announcing Dharma Transmission, May 2025
On Sunday 20 April, 2025, during our Easter seven-day Sesshin, I gave Dharma Transmission to Sean Weaver. This took place at Staveley, inland from Christchurch, nestled under the now snow-covered Southern Alps. The name I have given Sean is Lin-Un, (Forest Cloud), which is in keeping with his life's work as a forest conservationist.
Sean began practicing Zen in 1990. Ross Bolleter Roshi first came to New Zealand to teach in 1994, and soon after that Sean and his wife Jo hosted the first Christchurch Diamond Sangha sitting group in their cottage. They went on to host sitting groups in Wellington while Sean was a lecturer at Victoria University in Environmental Science, and again when they moved to Takaka in Golden Bay where he and Jo built up a strong Sangha that has continued to meet, with Sean's guidance from afar, during the six years since they moved to Christchurch.
In Christchurch Sean and I have shared the teaching for the last six years, joined two years ago by Shona Pierce Sensei, in whose home we meet. It is now nearly ten years since I appointed Sean as a Sensei in Takaka. During those intensely hard-working years, as he established a social purpose forest conservation business (Ekos), Sean has gained a keen following of people eager to come to retreats that he leads including Sesshin, and some that combine Zen practice with workshops on social and environmental activism.
I trust deeply Sean's warm heart for people, his passion for the Way, and his creativity as a Zen teacher. It is a joy for me to pass on the great "iron yoke with no hole for the head" to someone who has already proved himself as a fine teacher and friend.
Arthur Wells Roshi, 9 May 2025.
Sean began practicing Zen in 1990. Ross Bolleter Roshi first came to New Zealand to teach in 1994, and soon after that Sean and his wife Jo hosted the first Christchurch Diamond Sangha sitting group in their cottage. They went on to host sitting groups in Wellington while Sean was a lecturer at Victoria University in Environmental Science, and again when they moved to Takaka in Golden Bay where he and Jo built up a strong Sangha that has continued to meet, with Sean's guidance from afar, during the six years since they moved to Christchurch.
In Christchurch Sean and I have shared the teaching for the last six years, joined two years ago by Shona Pierce Sensei, in whose home we meet. It is now nearly ten years since I appointed Sean as a Sensei in Takaka. During those intensely hard-working years, as he established a social purpose forest conservation business (Ekos), Sean has gained a keen following of people eager to come to retreats that he leads including Sesshin, and some that combine Zen practice with workshops on social and environmental activism.
I trust deeply Sean's warm heart for people, his passion for the Way, and his creativity as a Zen teacher. It is a joy for me to pass on the great "iron yoke with no hole for the head" to someone who has already proved himself as a fine teacher and friend.
Arthur Wells Roshi, 9 May 2025.