Novitiate Zen Buddhist Priest

Rev. James Kanshin Sullivan

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

My partner, Sharada, and daughter, Elspeth, have lived in Oak Park since 2016.   When Elspeth was born in 2012, we moved to a small farm in Indiana where we raised chickens and grew vegetables. Once Elspeth grew to school age, we moved back to Oak Park. I started to teach yoga and basic meditation after receiving my teaching training from The Temple of Kriya, formerly located in Logan Square. I continue my yoga studies with Muriel Quinn of Abhaya yoga here in Oak Park. When I'm not teaching yoga, I seem to spend most of my time driving my daughter around to her various events and activities. I'm currently studying Zen Koans with Roshi Althouse and plan to ordain as a priest in the near future.    

I came to ZLMC way back in 2007 looking for a way to deepen and fortify my meditation practice. I was looking for a community of like-minded individuals to help turn my on-again-off-again meditation practice into a daily habit or ritual. I knew I needed a group of people to make that happen, both for accountability and for inspiration and courage. I took the foundations of mindfulness classes 3 times and did a few retreats at the Center before something clicked and I started more deep studies with Roshi Althouse. 

My spiritual practice is rooted in Zen Buddhism, but with a slant toward the body work of Traditional Hatha Yoga. After years of being completely disconnected with my body, I knew that I needed the grounding of a physical practice to help deepen my meditation and spiritual practice. Now a significant portion of my spiritual life is dedicated towards helping others find that same body connection that they once had when they were younger and to use that connection to find their own spiritual path. 

I've been a vegan for years now and at least try to help people find their way to a more plant-based diet. I mainly eat this way simply because I feel better physically and mentally. I also believe that one of the best things we can do to affect climate change is to reduce or eliminate our reliance on the mess that is animal agriculture. 

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