Our Teachers

Sarah Bender, Roshi

Sarah Bender, Sensei

Sarah Bender, Roshi, resident teacher for Springs Mountain Sangha, began her practice of Zen Buddhism with the Honolulu Diamond Sangha in1979. In 1984 she moved to Colorado Springs, and soon found a few others who shared her love of meditation and Buddhist study and became a co-founder of Springs Mountain Sangha in 1998. She became a student of Joan Sutherland, Roshi in 1997. In 2006 she received authorization to teach from Joan Sutherland, becoming a sensei with Sutherland Roshi’s Open Source and resident teacher for the sangha. From 2007 to 2013 Sarah also served as Cadet Chapel Buddhist Program Leader for the United States Air Force Academy. She received full transmission from Joan Sutherland, Roshi in June, 2017.

A list of Sarah’s current activities can be found by clicking here.

Andrew Palmer, Sensei

Andrew Palmer, Sensei

Andrew Palmer, Sensei, began practicing with Springs Mountain Sangha in 1999, was named a meditation instructor in 2007, and was authorized to teach by Joan Sutherland in February 2011. In addition to working with Springs Mountain Sangha, Andrew is the former resident teacher for Wet Mountain Sangha in Pueblo, and in until 2021 served as the Buddhist Program Leader for the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Chapel. Andrew’s love of koans and affinity for the ancestors combines with an everyday, ordinary-mind-is-the-way approach to practice, where awakening is always readily at hand. Andrew lives in Colorado Springs with his wife and son. Andrew’s web site can be located at http://www.bowandroar.com/