Meet Our Teachers

Guiding Teacher

The Reverend Edward Sanshin Oberholtzer, Roshi, has been a student of Zen for over twenty years. 

Ed was ordained Unsui by Myoun Roshi in 2007. He was given Denkai and Denbo, full dharma Transmission by Myoun Roshi in June, 2021 and Inka Shomei on June 6th, 2024.

Originally trained as a lawyer, Ed served as a housing attorney for Legal Services in New Bedford, Massachusetts before changing professions to become the social science bibliographer at the Tisch Library of Tufts University. For several years before retirement Ed served as director of the Thomas Beaver Free Library in Danville, Pa.

He is the guiding teacher of the Empty Moon Zen Sangha as well as the resident priest at the Joseph Priestley Zen Community in the Washington, D.C. area (formerly located in Northumberland, Pennsylvania). Before moving in 2025, Ed served as a chaplain at Bucknell University, as a Community Minister with the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Susquehanna Valley, and the Prophetic Council of the Poor People’s Campaign for Moral Revival.

He lives with his wife, Dr. Karen Wolf, in Rockville, Maryland.

The Reverend Janine Seitetsu Larsen, Osho, has been a student of Zen since 2001. She took Jukai in 2005 from Roshis Chozen & Hogen Bays at Great Vow Zen Monastery, part of the Zen Community of Oregon (ZCO), and became a Community Zen Leader with ZCO in 2013 after completing Sanghakai, a three year training program.

Dharma Holder Mo Weinhardt has been a dedicated Zen practitioner for almost 20 years. She trained with the Zen Peacemakers before becoming a student of Myoun Roshi in 2009.

In August 2022, Mo received Denkai Transmission from Myoun Roshi, and is a Dharma Holder within the Empty Moon Zen lineage.

An experienced educator, Mo holds a BA from the University of Michigan and an MS from Lesley University, and has worked with students across the developmental spectrum in a variety of settings. In 2020, Mo pivoted her career into the private sector, becoming a Director with a leading Silicon Valley consultancy. She now manages her own consulting business, working with corporate venture capital firms and early-stage startups in the tech industry.

Dharma Holder Tom Wardle has been a student of Zen for thirty years, training with the Kwan Um School, the Zen Peacemakers, and Boundless Way Zen. In 2009, he completed residential training in the Zen Peacemakers’ Seminary for Socially Engaged Buddhism. 

In August 2022, Tom received Denkai Transmission from Myoun Roshi and is a Dharma Holder within the Empty Moon Zen lineage.

An educator by profession, Tom has worked in the classroom, as a consultant, and in nonprofit leadership. He received his MBA from Hult International School of Business in spring 2021 and spent several years with a leading edtech startup. He is now an executive coach.

Senior Dharma Teacher Jan Seymour-Ford has been a student of Zen for more than a quarter of a century. She has studied with several teachers, most notably Dr. John Tarrant and Roshi Melissa Myozen Blacker. Edward Sanshin Oberholtzer, Roshi, the guiding teacher of the Empty Moon Sangha has designated Jan as a Senior Dharma Teacher. 

Jan is a retired librarian active in social justice work. Jan’s practice has brought her to a deep experience of the reality that we are all one, and she believes that Solomon Burke expressed this beautifully when he sang, “none of us are free if one of us is chained.” This realization compels her to work for equity and justice, which finds several venues in the Long Beach and Southern California areas.

She lives with her spouse, James Ford, in Tujunga, California.

Senior Dharma Teacher Chris Hoff has been a student of Zen for many years, training in both the Kwan Um and Soto traditions.

In August, 2022, Chis was installed as Practice Leader for the Zen Recovery Sangha, which currently meets on Monday nights. 

Chris has a PhD in marriage and family therapy. He is the Founder and Executive Director of the California Family Institute (CFI), a nonprofit organization established to provide desperately needed, low- and no-cost counseling services to under-resourced communities throughout Southern California. CFI also provides training for mental-health professionals and conducts research in the field.

Chris lives in Huntington Beach with his wife, Michele.

Practice Leader Dinah Seishin Hartley began Zen practice with the Bright Cloud Zen group at University Unitarian Church (Seattle) in 2016. She received the precepts (Jukai) in spring 2019. 

Dinah has filled several leadership roles in our Empty Moon and Bright Cloud sanghas, including Head Jisha, Lead Doan, Jiki, Assistant Tenzo, Sewing Coach, and discussion/ small group facilitator.

Dinah was named an Assistant Practice Leader with Empty Moon Zen in January 2021 and was installed as a Practice Leader in October 2022.

Now retired, Dinah has served on the Care Team at University Unitarian church, where she also plays in the Handbell Choir. She is an active participant and leader in her retirement community and particularly enjoys square dancing, singing, board games & jigsaw puzzles and most of all, hanging out with her young grandson as often as she can. Dinah is also an avid Trekkie.