Unzan Tesshin James Louis Smith was born and raised in the town of Moriah, in the Adirondack Mountains of northern New York State. He presently lives in Shad Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada and is happily married to Nancy Jarrett. He has two sons, one daughter and four step daughters. He has served as a science teacher at Columbia High School in Decatur, GA., a specialist teacher at Landmark East School in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and an elementary school teacher for the Halifax Regional School District. He earned a B.A. in Biology from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Acadia University.
Tesshin has been training in Zen since 1978 under the guidance of Rev. Zenkai Taiun Michael Elliston, roshi. Starting in 1981 he has served as practice leader for the Halifax Nova Scotia STO affiliate sangha. More recently, he served as coordinating chaplain and Soto Zen Buddhist Chaplain for the Multifaith Centre of Dalhousie University. As a transmitted priest, he is presently Chair of the STO Board of Directors, editor of the STO monthly online newsletter and member of the Online Dharma Study, Communications and Finance Committees.
