José Shinzan Palma

Sensei Shinzan, originally from Veracruz, Mexico, is an ordained Zen priest and Dharma successor of Joan Jiko Halifax, Roshi. His spiritual journey began in 1996 when he met Venerable Samu Sunim, a Korean Zen teacher, in Mexico City. During this encounter, he embarked on training in the Buddhist Maitreya Seminar while residing at the Toronto Zen Buddhist Temple until 2005. It was in 2004 that he received his ordination as a Zen Buddhist priest from Venerable Samu Sunim.

In San Diego, Sensei Shinzan founded the Open Gate Zen Collective, an organization dedicated to Zen practice and teachings. He also co-teaches teen retreats across the United States for the Institute for Mindful Education (IBME). Additionally, he serves as a guest teacher at various Zen centers and groups, including the Upaya Zen Center in New Mexico, the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care, Zen Groups in Mexico City, and Bogotá, Colombia.

Sensei Shinzan's vision is to continue mentoring and teaching youth and young adults. He aims to create a Zen Hispanic community in both the United States and Mexico, fostering a space where individuals with a shared cultural background can explore Zen practice and find support.

Bilingual in Spanish and English, Sensei Shinzan possesses fluency in both languages, allowing him to communicate and teach effectively in either tongue.