Meet Our Teachers

Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez)

Co-Guiding Teacher

Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez) is the co-guiding teacher of the Providence Zen Center, and the guiding teacher of the Delaware Valley Zen Center, which he helped found in the Spring of 1999. He began studying Zen with Zen Master Dae Kwang at the Providence Zen Center in 1994, receiving Inka (full authorization to teach) in 2009, and Dharma transmission from Zen Master Dae Kwang on April 1, 2023. As an industrial statistician, he works closely with engineers and scientists to help them make sense of data. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and daughter.

Kwan Haeng Sunim JDPSN

Co-Guiding Teacher, Abbot

PZC Co-Guiding Teacher
Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez)

Zen Master Tan Gong (José Ramírez) is the Co-Guiding Teacher at Providence Zen Center and the Guiding Teacher at Delaware Valley Zen Center, which he helped establish in 1999.

He started studying Zen with Zen Master Dae Kwang at Providence Zen Center in 1994, received inka (full authorization to teach) in 2009, and Dharma transmission from Zen Master Dae Kwang on April 1, 2023. As an industrial statistician, he works with engineers and scientists to analyze data. He lives in Rhode Island with his wife and daughter.

PZC Co-Guiding Teacher & Abbot
Kwan Haeng Sunim JDPSN

Kwan Haeng Sunim received inka (full authorization to teach) in December 2020 and is currently the Abbot and Co-Guiding Teacher at Providence Zen Center in Cumberland, Rhode Island.

He first met Zen Master Seung Sahn at the Cambridge Zen Center in 1986. He became a novice monk in 1999 at Chik Che Sa in South Korea and received full ordination in 2003 at Tong Do Sa. He has lived and practiced mainly at Hwa Gye Sa and Mu Sang Sa in Korea, where he served as Housemaster, Media Director, and Head Monk.