Teachers

Meet Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi

Founder of Awakening Dharma

Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi began practicing daily meditation in 1976. Since then, he has studied Buddhism extensively—investigating and engaging in Zen, Tibetan, Theravada, and Western non-dual traditions. He was authorized to teach in the Theravada Buddhist tradition in 2007 and the Zen Buddhist schools of Soto and Rinzai in 2022. Mugen is a senior student of Roshi Mark Sando Mininberg and a transmitted teacher in the White Plum Asanga—the body of teachers in the Maezumi-roshi lineage.

Mugen’s resonant and warmhearted teaching style engages students around the globe through in-person and online retreats, as well as one-on-one coaching. He encourages students to turn toward their true nature and, with realization of their true nature, embody their true identity. Mugen is the author of seven books, including Buddha’s Heart, Demystifying Awakening, Liberating the Self, and Living Awakeness. He is co-author of Practicing the Jhānas.

Schedule a one-on-one with Mugen Roshi.

Meet Mark Sando Mininberg, Roshi

Mark Sando Mininberg, Roshi trained for 20 years with John Daido Loori Roshi at Zen Mountain Monastery and later studied with and received dharma transmission from Bernie Glassman, Roshi of the Zen Peacemaker Order in 2011. Mark received inka from Ken Byalin, Roshi and Paco Lugovina, Roshi in 2021. Mark is a lay teacher working with small groups and individual students.

Meet Thomas Zenshin Jedensjö

Dharma Holder with Awakening Dharma

Thomas Zenshin Jedensjö was born in Sweden. He started meditating in 2005 and has been a student of Stephen Mugen Snyder’s since 2009. In 2023, he completed the two-year Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training program with Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi, by which Thomas became authorized to teach in the Theravada Buddhist Pa Auk Sayadaw lineage the Brahmavihāra, Breath Awareness meditation, Forgiveness & Gratitude practices. Thomas is also authorized to teach Shikantaza and to lead Absolute Guided Meditations.

Thomas has experience in a variety of Theravada and Zen practices with a focus on the Brahmavihāras and Shikantaza. He’s currently leading online meditation groups as well as serving as an assistant teacher for Awakening Dharma on residential retreats.

Meet Keith Ekō Horan

Dharma Holder with Awakening Dharma

Keith Ekō Horan has been meditating since 1999. He studied and practised in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition initially. He completed a Master’s in Mindfulness-Based Approaches in 2016 and taught the MBSR program for many years. His most impactful time of practice has been the last three years as a student of Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi.

He is about to complete a two-year Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training program, and currently teaches the Brahmavihāra practices, as well as Breath Awareness Meditation. He is the narrator of Mugen Roshi’s audiobook Buddha’s Heart.

Keith lives in Galway, Ireland, with his wife and three children. He leads online workshops and an in-person group based in Galway.

Meet Todd Mushin Lisonbee

Assistant retreat teacher with Awakening Dharma

Todd Mushin Lisonbee has been a student of Stephen Mugen Snyder’s since 2022 when he joined the first Demystifying Awakening Mentoring Program. Since then he’s participated in 10+ mentoring programs and 24+ weeks of retreat. He’s been doing formal Koan study since 2022. His career background is in software engineering. In 2023, he started volunteering for Awakening Dharma including creating self-paced courses and managing Stephen’s YouTube channel. In May 2025, he became part of the Awakening Dharma staff, supporting the website and online programs.

He completed a two-year Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training program and you’ll find him at most Awakening Dharma events.  He co-leads the Tuesday Meditation Group.  He also serves as an assistant teacher for Awakening Dharma on residential retreats.  He lives in Portland, Oregon with his wife Kristen Dedeaux, another Awakening Dharma student.

Meet Awakening Dharma Teacher Training graduates

Thais Armstrong began practicing meditation in 1983 initiating a lifelong spiritual path. She began practicing Vipassana in 2001 and started focusing on Theravada concentration practices in 2005. She has a specific interest in end-of-life processes and has worked with Hospice Volunteer programs since 2003; she currently trains and facilitates support programs for hospice volunteers. She is an artist, international bird watcher, and lives on Samish Island, WA. Thais can be reached at [E-Address: ThaisArmstrong2020 | gmail]

Lua Issan Fahy est né à Dublin, en Irlande, et a grandi à Genève, en Suisse. Il a participé à sa première retraite de méditation en 1979 au Sri Lanka, pratiquant la méthode Vipassana de Mahasi Sayadaw, originaire du Myanmar. En 1980, il a passé six mois au centre de méditation Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha à Yangon, au Myanmar, le monastère principal de Mahasi Sayadaw. Il a également séjourné quelques mois à Wat Pah Nanachat, un monastère fondé par Ajahn Chah, issu de la tradition thaïlandaise des Moines de la Forêt. La pratique de la méditation a accompagné Issan tout au long des turbulences inhérentes à vivre une vie humaine. 

En 2023, Issan a complété le programme de formation de deux ans « Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training » de Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi, et est désormais autorisé à enseigner dans la lignée bouddhiste Theravada Pa Auk Sayadaw les Brahmavihāras, l’Attention au Souffle et les pratiques du Pardon et de la Gratitude. 

Lua Issan Fahy was born in Dublin, Ireland and raised in Geneva, Switzerland. He took his first meditation retreat in 1979 in Sri Lanka in the Vipassana style of Mahasi Sayadaw from Burma. In 1980, he spent six months in the Mahasi Sasana Yeiktha Meditation Centre in Yangon, Burma, Mahasi Sayadaw’s main monastery. He also spent a few months in Wat Pah Nanachat, a monastery founded by Ajahn Chah from the Thai Forest tradition. Issan’s meditation practice has accompanied him through the turbulence of living a human life.

In 2023, Issan completed the two-year Buddha’s Heart Teacher Training program with Stephen Mugen Snyder, Roshi, and is authorized to teach in the Theravada Buddhist Pa Auk Sayadaw lineage the Brahmavihāras, Breath Awareness meditation and Forgiveness & Gratitude practices.

Matthew Buckley has practiced meditation with Stephen Snyder for over ten years. While studying philosophy at university, he became drawn to Eastern religions and meditation. He began practicing at Amaravati, the Ajahn Chah monastery in London, and shortly after went to Wat Pah Nanachat in Ubon, Thailand. After going on retreat with Stephen in 2013, he went to Burma to practice at Pa Auk, and eventually ordained in the Pa Auk lineage for five years.