Our Teachers
If you’re looking for a Zen teacher, let us know.
Wayne Bivens-Tatum—Sangha Leader
Wayne is a priest and Dharma Holder in the East Mountain Buddhist Community and the sangha leader of Scudder Falls Zen. He approaches Zen as a philosophical way of life: a humanistic, naturalized variety of modern Buddhism incorporating a range of contemplative and mind-training practices to transform one’s character and help to liberate all beings from suffering by cultivating wisdom and universal benevolence-the Bodhisattva path. It’s a work in progress. In addition to various Chan/Sŏn/Zen masters, Wayne’s somewhat eclectic “all one Dharma” Zen is influenced by the the Madhyamaka and Insight schools of Buddhism, philosophical Daoism, the Socratic philosophical tradition, Pragmatism, Existentialism, and a bit of psychology and cognitive science. He lives in Trenton, NJ and studies with Master Zen Teacher Jonson Miller. He works as an academic librarian and volunteers as a college instructor in NJ prisons.
Jonson Miller—Guiding Teacher
Jonson is a teacher in the East Mountain Buddhist Community and serves as the guiding teacher of Scudder Falls Zen. He takes an ecumenical approach to Buddhism, but emphasizes Zen, Pure Land, and Huayan Buddhisms. Daoism and Theravada Buddhism are other important contributors to his thought and practice, He has studied with Venerable Andre Taesan Halaw, the founder and head teacher of the East Mountain Community, since 2014 and received Zen transmission from Andre in 2023. Jonson lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania with his partner and works as a history professor.
Diane Klein—Founding Member
Diane Klein has been a member of the Empty Bowl Zendo in Morristown, New Jersey for over 10 years as a student of Roshi Ruzan Cicetti. EBZ is in the Soto lineage of the White Plum Asanga, whose teachers include Roshi Bernie Glassman, founder of the Zen Peacemakers.
Diane has taken the Bodhisattva Vows and in October 2022, after a year of precept study and preparations, she celebrated her Jukai ceremony taking the name DoHo, or Way Walking.
She views Zen as a “doing” practice that includes daily meditation and being of service. She takes refuge in the three treasures: the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha and enjoys sitting and studying with others who want to bring the teachings of Buddhism into their lives.
Diane and her husband live in Lower Makefield Township.
Our Sangha
Scudder Falls Zen is a member of the East Mountain Buddhist Community, a confederation of sangha and teachers that has grown out of the Original Mind Zen Sangha, founded by Andre Taesan Halaw in Princeton, New Jersey in 2012. Andre was a student of the late Wonji Dharma, founder of the former Five Mountain Zen Order. While Wonji drew upon several traditions, we draw our traditions and teaching styles primarily from Korean Buddhism, especially its Son (Zen) traditions, as brought to the United States by Zen Master Seung Sahn.
The sangha takes its name from Scudders Falls, a small area of white water rapids in the Delaware River between Bucks and Mercer counties. The Scudder Falls Bridge connects our sangha members to each other.
East Mountain Buddhist Community
Other sanghas within the East Mountain Community: Original Mind Zen Sangha, One Mind Zen Collective, and One Mountain Zen. One Mind meets every Wednesday at 7pm EST for a virtual practice session on Zoom.
Scudder Falls Zen 