Steve Given

Steve Given began practicing Zen in 1980 at Dharma Rain Zen Center in Portland, Oregon. He would also go on to practice with Soyu Matsuoka in Long Beach, California. Eventually, Steve made his way to San Francisco after accepting a faculty appointment at an institution in the Bay Area, and he practiced Zen at SFZC with Anshin Rosalie Curtis. He then practiced under Dairyu Michael Wenger at Dragons Leap Zen Center, where he was ordained and completed his Shuso practice period in 2018.

While in the Bay Area, he also taught sewing in the SFZC sewing room, helping folks sew Buddha’s robe. Upon retirement, Steve returned to Oregon, settling in Portland, where he began studying with Endo Kirk Phillips, who gave him dharma transmission in 2025.

Steve continues to practice with Endo Kirk Phillips and KoSei Cynthia Ziegler at Sellwood Soto Zen in Portland. He also practices with Seattle Soto Zen, at Oak Street Zen with Peter van der Sterre, and at Ocean Compassion Sangha with Koshin Steven Tierney.

Steve currently serves as the chair of the Seattle Soto Zen Practice Council and was Tenzo for the Seattle fall sesshin. He serves as treasurer for Sellwood Soto Zen.