Dennis Duermeier JDPSN began practice with the Kansas Zen Center in 1981. He was involved in buying and renovating the first residential Zen center in Kansas and later became its abbot. In 2000 he received inka from Zen Master Seung Sahn. In 2004, for personal reasons, he left the Kwan Um School of Zen, and eventually spent several years living in Australia. In 2018, he returned to the United States and to the School. In 2020, under the guidance of Zen Master Bon Hae, his authorization to teach was reaffirmed. He has worked in a variety of building trades for most of his life, with later jobs in government service in both the United States and Australia, before retiring in 2018.