Shoken Winecoff Roshi
Photo: John Taiyu Robertson
is founding teacher and abbot of Ryumonji Zen Monastery. He is a Dharma Heir of the late Dainin Katagiri Roshi, founder of the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Rev. Winecoff practiced with Katagiri Roshi in Minneapolis from 1976 until Katagiri Roshi’s death in 1990. Shoken also received formal training with Ikko Narasaki Roshi and Tsugen Narasaki Roshi at Zuioji Zen Monastery and Shogoji Zen Monastery in Japan for three years from 1989 to 1992. Since that time he has devoted himself to establishing a Soto Zen monastery in the Midwest.
Dharma Heirs
Shoken Winecoff Roshi has several dharma heirs who have received Dharma Transmission. These persons are listed in the following pages
Rev. Tesshin Lehmberg
Lake Superior Zendo
2222 Longyear Ave.
Marquette, MI 49855
906-226-6407
Rev. Lehmberg was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on December 7, 2002 and received Dharma transmission from him on August 23, 2007. He is the founder of the Lake Superior Zendo in Marquette.
Rev. Ryoten Lehmann
Photo: Kalen McAllister
Rev. Ryoten Lehmann
W 6272 720th Ave.
Beldenville, WI 54003
715-273-6205
Rev. Lehmann was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 16, 2000 and received Dharma transmission from him on January 10, 2008. She served Ryumonji for 6 years as Ino. Ryoten currently practices at her home temple, Boundless Sky, in Beldenville, WI.
Rev. Jodo Clusin
prariemountain.org
themeditationplace.org
Rev. Clusin was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on August 20, 1994 and received Dharma transmission on June 4, 2010. He leads Prairie Mountain Zen Center in Longmont, CO.
Rev. Eido Espe
5009 Grand Ave.
Des Moines, IA 50312
515-664-2371
https://dmzencenter.org
Rev. Espe was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on June 20, 2009 and received Dharma transmission on June 6, 2010. Rev. Espe serves as emeritas teacher of the Des Moines Zen Center in Des Moines, IA. He also serves as Vice-Abbot of Ryumonji Zen Monastery.
Rev. Kalen McAllister
904 Tavalon
St. Louis, MO 63119
314-961-7515
kalen@charter.net
Rev. McAllister was ordained by Rev. Winecoff in November 2007 and received Dharma transmission in March 2012. Rev. McAllister serves as head teacher of Shinzo Zen Meditation Center in St. Louis, MO and spiritual adviser to Inside Dharma (a prison outreach organization that she co-founded). She served as the first non-Christian prison chaplain in Missouri from 2009 to 2015.
Rev Myoshi Thomson
myoshi@zenchicago.org
312-576-3582
https://www.zenchicago.org
Rev. Thomson was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 5, 2010 and received Dharma transmission from him on March 23, 2013. He is founder and spiritual leader of the Chicago Zen Meditation Community.
Rev. Jinen Conway
marshamarshaconway@gmail.com
703-801-9510
Rev. Conway was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 5, 2010 and received Dharma transmission from him on April 26, 2013. She leads Jun Ryu Pure-Hearted Dragons, at Hollin Hall Senior Center.
Rev. Taizen (Dale) Verkuilen
Midwest Soto Zen Community
5111 St. Cyr Road
Middleton, WI 53562
Rev. Taizen Verkuilen was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on February 19, 2000 and received Dharma transmission on October 1, 2013. Taizen is co-founder and leader emeritus of the Midwest Soto Zen Community (aka Stray Dog Sangha) in Middleton, WI.
Rev. Taiju Wilimek
Sokuji Zendo
http://www.zenupnorth.org
geriwilimek@admin
Rev. Wilimek was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 5, 2010 and received Dharma transmission from him on June 13, 2015. She leads Sokuji Zendo in Bemidji, MN.
Rev. Jakudo Peterson
1014 Pinehill Drive
Albert Lea, MN 56007
507-373-0632
debjohnpete@yahoo.com
Rev. Peterson was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 18, 2011 and received Dharma transmission from him on April 30, 2016. He leads the Albert Lea Meditation Group in Albert Lea, MN.
Rev. Myoko Demuth
Zen Center
116 Washington St.
Decorah, IA 52101
decorahzencenter@gmail.com
Rev. Demuth was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on March 17, 2013 and received Dharma transmission from him on May 27, 2016. She is the Co-Director of the Decorah Zen Center, Decorah, IA.
Rev. Genpo O’Neil
Founder and leader of Compassionate Ocean Zen Center
https://www.oceanzen.org
652 17th Avenue NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413
612-781-7640
Rev. Genpo O’Neal was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on May 20, 2018 and received Dharma transmission from him on Feb 12, 2022.
Rev. Daiki Barlow
Founder and leader of Midtown Atlanta Zendo
https://ATLzen.org
Midtown Atlanta Zendo
238 15th Street North East
Atlanta, GA 30309
Rev. Daiki Barlow was ordained by Rev. Daishin McCabe at Zen Fields in Ames, Iowa on August 17, 2017 and received Dharma transmission on March 14, 2023. Daiki is founder and leader of Midtown Atlanta Zendo.
Rev. Jikan Kondrick
Deceased (February 15, 2011)
Rev. Jikan Kondrick was ordained on October 14, 1995. She received Dharma transmission on December 14, 2005 from Rev. Winecoff. She served as Vice-Abbess of Ryumonji Zen Monastery from its founding in 2000 until her retirement in 2010.
Rev. Shoshin Kelly
Deceased (February 4, 2012)
Reverend Kelly was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 22, 2001 and received Dharma transmission from him on September 17, 2006. The Sokuji Zen Group that he founded in Bemidji, MN meets Fridays at 6:30 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Bemidji.
Rev. Dainei Appelbaum
Deceased (July 24, 2022)
Rev. Appelbaum was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on May 20, 2012 and received Dharma transmission from him on June 26, 2015.
Rev. Renshin (Barbara) Verkuilen
Deceased (March 18, 2024)
Rev. Renshin Verkuilen was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on November 2, 1997 and received Dharma transmission from him on August 31, 2013. Renshin was co-founder of the Midwest Soto Zen Community (aka Stray Dog Sangha) in Middleton, WI.
Rev. Ichiryu Moran
Deceased (July 27, 2024)
Rev. Moran was ordained by Rev. Winecoff on September 16, 2000 and received Dharma transmission from him on August 24, 2007.