About Us

We’re here to help you find your way.

We created this Zen Center so that we could be an oasis in the storm of life for someone like you.

We are a diverse, open-hearted Sangha community practicing a Zen spiritual path in the White Plum Lineage. Our doors are open to everyone, regardless of race, religion, gender, or point of view.

Two women having an animated convivial conversation | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

At our Zen Center, we embody a profound vision, a purposeful mission, and a set of unwavering core values that guide our spiritual journey.

Our mission is to empower you to live a Zen-inspired life of openness, empathy, and clarity.

Our values

  1. Show openness, respect, and kindness to everyone

  2. Be genuine to yourself and others

  3. Practice openness and fearlessness in conflict

  4. Face fears as opportunities for growth

  5. Create and appreciate beauty

  6. Have integrity and honor your agreements

  7. Respect others with faith and loyalty

  8. Acknowledge privilege without guilt

  9. Respect different worldviews as learning opportunities

Meet Our Co-Founders

Roshi Robert Joshin Althouse and Roshi June Ryushin Tanoue co-founded this Zen Center together in 2010. As husband and wife, they have spent much of their life practicing and teaching. They co-founded this Center to make the spiritual path of Zen accessible to any one regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender, or nationality. In the process a warm-hearted community has grown up around them that supports each other on this spiritual path of Zen.

Meet with Roshi Joshin
Co-founders, Roshi June Tanoue and Roshi Robert Althouse, with a framed piece of Japanese calligraphy hanging on the wall behind them. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Our teachers

Abbot, Roshi Robert Joshin Althouse, Zen Master and Priest standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Co-founder, Roshi June Ryushin Tanoue, Zen Master, Priest, and Hula Master (Kumu Hula), standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Roshi Robert Joshin Althouse`

Roshi June Ryushin Tanoue

Rev. Diane Myogetsu Bejcek, fully empowered Zen Priest and certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Rev. Kelly Junmei Good, novitiate Zen Priest, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Rev. Diane Myogetsu Bejcek

Rev. Kelly Junmei Good

Rev. James Kanshin Sullivan, novitiate Zen Priest. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Robert Dharma Cloud Demaree, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Rev. James Kanshin Sullivan

Robert Dharma Cloud Demaree

Kathy Dull, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Christine DuSell, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Kathy Dull

Christine DuSell

Daniel Good, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Ken Daigu Hillman, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Jason Jensen, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", playing with his children. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Daniel Good

Ken Daigu Hillman

Melanie Hoetsu Jessen, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", smiling with glasses on top of her head. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL.
Julie Chisho Kase, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Jason Jensen

Melanie Hoetsu Jessen

Skye Jigen Lavin, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Julie Chisho Kase

Skye Jigen Lavin

Karleen Manchanda, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", smiling and wearing red glasses. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Ericka Menchen-Trevino, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Robert Kanjo Schwoch, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing and smiling. | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Juri Sekiguchi, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL
Christian Baizan Solorzano, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", with dark hair, wearing glasses, smiling, standing in front of leafy plants.

Robert Kanjo Schwoch

Juri Sekiguchi

Chritian Baizan Solorzano

Jacquelyn Genshin Weiner-O’Shea

Jackie Popp, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Karleen Manchanda

Patrick Ungo O'Shea, certified by ZLMC as a "Mindfulness Meditation Teacher", standing in front of altar in Buddha Hall at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

Ericka Menchen-Trevino

Jackie Popp

Patrick Ungo O’Shea