Danan Henry

Michael Danan Henry (born 1939) is an American Roshi in the Harada-Yasutani school of Zen Buddhism, a sect derived from both the Rinzai and Sōtō traditions of Japanese Zen, practicing in the Diamond Sangha lineage of Robert Baker Aitken. The founding teacher of the Zen Center of Denver, Henry received Dharma transmission from Philip Kapleau Roshi in 1989 and, after many years of subsequent training with Robert Aitken Roshi, was recognized as a Diamond Sangha teacher and master by Aitken. Danan Henry Roshi created and implemented the Monastery Without Walls training program; the Lotus in the Flame Lay Order; and the Every Minute Zen mindfulness training program as abbot and spiritual director of the Zen Center of Denver.

On September 12, 2010, Danan Roshi conferred Dharma transmission and appointment of abbacy to Karin Kempe, Ken Morgareidge, and Peggy Sheehan, and stepped aside as abbot of the Zen Center of Denver. Danan Roshi has lived at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center in Jemez Springs, NM since 2021 and is the teacher of the Old Bones Sangha, a small group of mostly senior students who meet periodically in person for retreats.

On June 30, 2016, Danan Roshi conferred Dharma transmission to Rafe Martin in a public ceremony at the Rochester Zen Center.

On June 18, 2023, Danan Roshi conferred Dharma transmission to Hoag Holmgren in a public ceremony at the Bodhi Manda Zen Center.

On June 24, 2023, Danan Roshi identified the following long-time students as associate teachers: John Guernsey, David Harris, Steve Hughes, and James Marshall.