Rev. Shinmon Michael Newton

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Rev. Shinmon Michael Newton began Zen practice in 1983 as a university student in Japan, with a Rinzai priest at an ancient temple on Mount Tsukuba, later moving to Kyoto and practicing Soto Zen with Shohaku Okumura. Since returning to Vancouver in 1987 he has practiced with Zoketsu Norman Fischer. He received priest ordination from him in in 2003 and dharma transmission in 2011. He was installed as a guiding teacher of Mountain Rain Zen Community in May 2017.

Michael teaches Asian studies and religious studies at Simon Fraser University. He is committed to supporting Mountain Rain as a lay practice community in connection with the wider community, the arts, and the natural world.