Our Teachers
Ruben Habito
Founding Teacher of MKZC
.Ruben commenced his Zen practice in Japan under the mentorship of Yamada Koun Roshi and completed his koan studies in 1988. In 1989, he relocated to Dallas to assume a faculty position at SMU’s Perkins School of Theology. Married to Maria Reis Habito, they have two adult sons. After retiring from his teaching responsibilities at SMU, he currently resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where he continues to contribute to MKZC’s online presence through its monthly Days of Zen program. Additionally, he visits Dallas to facilitate in-person Zen retreats.
Helen Cortes
Resident Teacher of MKZC
Helen commenced her Zen practice under the guidance of Ruben Habito in 1992. In 2010, she assumed the role of a teacher at the MKZC. In May 2024, Ruben appointed Helen as the Resident Teacher of MKZC. Helen leads the sangha in both on-site and online practice sessions and facilitates sesshins once or twice annually. Since 1996, she has held the position of Executive Director of the MKZC. Prior to joining the MKZC, Helen served as a guidance counselor and teacher for high school boys at a Benedictine School. Additionally, she is a Benedictine Oblate of Osage Monastery in Sand Springs, Oklahoma.
Newly Appointed Teachers
Jane Patterson
Teacher at large
Los Angeles, CA
Michael Mason
Teacher at large
Tulsa, OK
Joe Benenate
Teacher, MKZC
Newly Appointed Assistant Teachers
Ruslan Sadyerev
Boston, MA
Michael Kampschaefer
Oklahoma City, OK
Other Appointed Teachers & Their Sanghas
Valerie Forstman
Valerie commenced her Zen practice with Ruben Habito in 1994. She currently serves as the guiding teacher of Mountain Cloud Zen Center in New Mexico and the Dancing Crane Zen Center in Gainesville, Florida.
Mountain Cloud Zen Center
Santa Fe, NM
Lee Ann Nail
Lee Ann commenced her zen practice in 1985. She currently serves as the guiding teacher of the Salem Zen Center in Portland. Additionally, she holds the position of therapist in Portland, Oregon.
Salem Zen Center
Salem, OR
Maria Habito
Maria commenced her Zen practice in 1987. She currently serves as the guiding teacher of Sophia Zen Center in Indiana. Additionally, she holds the position of program director at the Museum of World Religions in Taiwan.
John Petersen
John began his Zen practice in 2003 and studied under Maria Habito in 2012. In 2023, he was appointed Zen teacher by Ruben and Maria Reis Habito. He currently serves as resident teacher at the Sophia Zen Center.
Sophia Zen Center
South Bend, IN