Novitiate Zen Buddhist Priest

Rev. James Kanshin Sullivan

Rev. James Kanshin Sullivan is a novitiate Zen Priest at ZLMC. He also serves as Treasurer on the ZLMC Board of Directors.

James Kanshin Sullivan lives in Oak Park with his partner, Sharada, and daughter, Elspeth. The family spent several years on a small farm in Indiana raising chickens and growing vegetables before returning to Oak Park in 2016.

He is a yoga teacher, having received training from The Temple of Kriya in Logan Square and continuing studies with Muriel Quinn of Abhaya Yoga in Oak Park. His spiritual practice bridges Zen Buddhism and Traditional Hatha Yoga—an integration born from recognizing that reconnecting with the body deepened his meditation practice. He now helps others rediscover that same body-mind connection as a foundation for their own spiritual path.

Kanshin first came to ZLMC in 2007 seeking community and accountability to transform his inconsistent meditation practice into a daily ritual. After taking Foundations of Mindfulness three times and attending several retreats, something clicked. He began deep study with Roshi Althouse and ordained as a priest.

A long-time vegan, he advocates for plant-based eating as both a personal health practice and a response to climate change. 

A family of three taking a selfie on a balcony overlooking a city street at sunset. The woman and man are smiling, with the young girl in front also smiling brightly.
Close-up portrait of a middle-aged man with short dark hair, glasses, and a light beard, standing outdoors with a blurred background of trees and a wooden fence.
  • A woman with curly hair and wearing a black shirt with a red apron bows her head and hands in prayer over a photograph box on a table, while another woman with grey hair and glasses, wearing a black top and a gold shawl, stands with her back to the camera, with her hands in a prayer position near her face. A vase with purple flowers and a notebook are on the table, and a large TV screen is visible on the wall in the background.

    Student Ceremonies

  • A nun with glasses and a man with gray hair and glasses, both wearing brown robes, are standing outside near a beige wall, engaging in a prayer or conversation. The man with glasses is holding a black book or folder, and the woman has her hands pressed together in prayer.

    Buddhist Services

  • A group of people sitting in a circle indoors, with one woman holding a microphone and smiling, and an older man wearing a green shirt and apron sitting next to her.

    Conversations with teachers

  • Group of people sitting with eyes closed, appearing to meditate or pray in a room with a whiteboard and a TV mounted on the wall.

    Meditation