Dai-Shin-ji was organized in the early part of 2004 by two of Kobun Daiosho's dharma successors, Butan Stanley White Sensei and Meiho Noel MacDonald Sensei to honor a request by Kobun Daiosho several years earlier. In the early days of 2004 Butan and Meiho felt the time was right and have begun practicing zazen in a rented room next to the Wired cafe on La Posta Street in Taos. Already several students are coming for zazen and services and more are expected in the near future.

Dai-Shin-ji is a 501(C)(3) not for profit corporation and has a board of directors that consists of a President, Vice-president and Secretary-treasurer.

President of the board is Hans Vanja Palmers Roshi who resides in Switzerland.

Vanja Roshi is the senior dharma heir to Houn Kobun Ottagawa Daiosho. Vanja has been practicing Zen Buddhism for over thirty years and has established two Practice centers in Europe, one in Austria and one in Switzerland. He is now spiritual leader of both of Kobun Daiosho's temples here in the United States. Vanja Roshi is also active in Animal rights and Animal abuse and cruelty prevention in Europe.

Vice-president of the board is Butan Stanley White Sensei. Butan is Abbot of Hoko-ji, a temple established by Kobun Daiosho in Taos in 1982. Butan Sensei has been practicing Zen Buddhism for nearly fifty years, in Mexico, at Tassahara Monastery in California and here in Taos at Hoko-ji.

Secretary-Treasurer of the board is Meiho Noel MacDonald Sensei. Meiho Sensei practiced with Kobun Daiosho for twenty-four-years before his death. Meiho Sensei was one of the founding monks at Hoko-ji and was appointed by Kobun Daiosho as Abbot of Jiko-ji in California in 1991 but later returned to Taos. Meiho Sensei is now the senior priest at Dai-shin-ji.

We are currently seeking the generous donation of a more permanent space for the Daishin-ji sangha to practice. The space that we need at this time doesn't have to exceed 20'x20' but needs to remain available until we are able to establish ourselves in a permanent place.

Also, since we must construct Tans, (Seating platforms) along two walls, it is best that we have a space that is not shared by other groups. This space must be located within the city limits of Taos since the purpose of establishing this new Zendo is to make Zazen practice more accessible to people who live the town area and to visitors. Although we do not have the means to pay rent on such a space at this time, we can offer a dollar for dollar trade in the form of art work or expert cabinet and carpenter work.

If you have such a space and would like to help support the traditional practice of Soto Zen Buddhism, please contact: Meiho Sensei at: sangha@netscape.com or by phone: (505) 751-1612 or: Butan Stan White Sensei at: whyte@kitcarson.net or by phone: (505) 751-1908