Teacher
Tim Colohan is a Ji Do Poep Sa Nim which translates to ‘Guide to the Way’ or ‘Dharma Master’ in the Kwan Um School of Zen.
While waiting tables in Los Angeles and pursuing a fine arts career, Tim found Zen. Or it found him. Tim’s very first introduction to Zen principles was in a biography of California artist Robert Irwin titled ‘Seeing Is Forgetting the Name of the Thing Seen’. It grabbed his attention and led him down a path where he started training with Zen Master Seung Sahn at the Dharma Zen Center in 1985.
Tim then took 5 Precepts in 1991 and 10 Precepts in 1993. In 1992, he began a career in Set Decoration for TV and Film and found his practice supporting him in the day to day realities of the contemporary world. Tim traveled to Korea in 1995 and attended a 90 day silent Kyol Che retreat and did so again in 1997. He worked on the TV show ‘ER’ from 1999 to 2009. Production work on the show was strenuous and challenging. He was able to apply the benefits and wisdom of these retreats into the “marketplace” of production work.
Tim was inspired to use his down time to sit a 21 day solo retreat in 2001. He trained and took 16 Precepts in 2005 at the Golden Wind Zen Center in Long Beach. He led a series of 90 day American Kyol Che retreats annually from 2008 to 2015. He then completed his training with the Golden Wind Zen Center in 2015. Tim received inka teaching authority from Zen Master Soeng Hyang in April of 2022.
Tim includes Yoga Nidra and MBSR approaches to meditation in his practice and teaching of Zen. He currently enjoys practicing at Dharma Zen Center, Los Angeles. He teaches regularly upon invitation at Long Beach Meditation. Tim also practices with ‘Silver Lake Meditation Group’, and a Pasadena interfaith group that is close to his heart, composed of Muslims, Christians, Jews, Buddhists and Baha’i.