Peaceful Dragon Temple

Guiding Teacher

Ryūmon Hilda Baldoquín Sensei

Ryūmon Hilda Baldoquín Sensei, born in Las Tunas, Cuba and raised in Harlem, is co-founder, with their spouse Dr. Catherine Anraku Hondorp Sensei, of Two Streams Zen. 

Upon request, Sensei works as a trauma specialist within the context Contemplative Somatic Wellness™ a culturally adept, biospiritual immersion process developed by Sensei utilizing nervous system regulation. Contemplative Somatic Wellness™ is the cornerstone of a practice path towards a  body-heart-mind centered movement for spiritual social activism.

A Polyvagal Informed Practice, the fundamental approach of Contemplative Somatic Wellness™ is that healing happens to the extent the Nervous System is allowed to complete self-protected responses within the context of the lived embodied experience, in a safe, co-regulated, coherent, and relational vessel.

Contemplative Somatic Wellness™ approach is grounded in Dr. Erica Sherover-Marcuse’s radical theory of Emancipatory Consciousness–one that demands we become conscious of ourselves as a revolutionary act; the liberation teachings of Zen; the healing of Legacy (Intergenerational) Trauma; the Honoring of our Ancestors; the power of Embodied Movement; Deb Dana’s Polyvagal Informed Clinical Practice applications; Stephen Porges’ Polyvagal Theory; and Arawana Hashayi’s Social Presencing Theater.

Although welcoming all people, the focus of Sensei’s work in their trauma-informed private practice is on those who self-identify as members of communities that Sensei is a part of: biracial, immigrant, non-native English speaking, working class, trans and gender nonconforming. As a former college chaplain, Sensei continues to deeply enjoy working with young adults.

An ordained Soto Zen priest, Sensei is the editor of the seminal anthology, Dharma, Color and Culture: New Voices in Western Buddhism, co-author of the far-reaching Face to Face: Solving Conflict Without Giving In, and contributor to the published, edited proceedings of the Smith College conference Women Practicing Buddhism: An American Experience.

Ryūmon Sensei have had the great fortune and privilege of studying, practicing, training, and receiving teachings from foremost female spiritual teachers in the West.

In honor and recognition of all the women who have come before, and who have  mentored, guided, and supported Sensei on the Path, the names are listed here:

Venerable Zen Teacher Shunbo Zenkei Blanche Hartman (first Abbess of San Francisco Zen Center) from whom Sensei received Priest Ordination and became a Dharma Successor and Lineage Holder.

Eijun Linda Cutts Roshi (second Abbess of San Francisco Zen Center) with whom Sensei trained as Shuso (head monk) at Green Dragon Temple/Green Gulch Farm

Bhikshuni Pema Chodron — with whom Sensei worked, practiced, and studied for a decade at Gampo Abbey, in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada. Upon Venerable Pema’s request, Sensei designed and facilitated leadership development and conflict resolution trainings for the residential monastic community, worked closely collaboratively with the new Director, and trained and guided the community in the implementation of kitchen and service monastic practice.

Also, Toni Packer, Sandra Gonzalez, Zen Master Soeng Hyang (Bobby Rhodes), Reverend Shotai de la Rosa, Bhikshuni Thubten Saldon, Acharya Arawana Hayashi, and Acharya Judith A. Simmer-Brown, PhD.

Throughout their training, Sensei also sat with and received teachings from the following male teachers: Venerable Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi, Robert Aitken Roshi, Norman Fischer Roshi, Shohaku Okumura Roshi, Henry Ryu’un Shukman, and Yamada Ryoun Roshi.

Following the instructions one of their teachers gave them in the midst of Sensei’s first solitary retreat in the mountains: “Is good for you to wear a little red under those black Zen robes!”, Sensei went on to receive teachings in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition from H.H. The 14th Dalai Lama, The Very Venerable Thrangu Rinpoche, Her Eminence Mindrolling Jetsün Khandro Rinpoche, Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso Rinpoche, Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, and Lama Zopa Rinpoche.

In the mid-1990’s, at the invitation of Laurie Senauke, of the Berkeley Zen Center, Sensei led the first multicultural change and anti-racism training workshop at SFZC City Center. This followed trainings for the Zen Hospice volunteers, the staff at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, and trainings at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center with colleague, Alec McCleod from Oakland, California. In the late 1990’s, as a Director on the San Francisco Zen Center’s Board, Sensei introduced the very first Institutional Diversity Initiative.

In 1999, at the request of their Zen Master Zenkei Blanche Hartman Roshi, Sensei founded the People of Color sitting group at SFZC, followed by leading retreats for self-identified People of Color at Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, and, with Reverend Shotai de la Rosa, at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. For several years, these dedicated Zen practice spaces and opportunities for Practitioners of Color were the first to emerge within any major white Western convert Zen Buddhist institution. Many of today’s Western convert and indigenous Buddhist teachers of color came through, and practiced, with this historically groundbreaking Sangha of Color of decades ago.

As directed by Zenkei Roshi, Sensei engaged formal training as a non-residential practitioner for eighteen years; while also periodically living and training at City Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.

In the early 2000’s, Sensei co-founded the LGBT sitting group at the then newly opened SF LGBT Center on Market Street. And in the late 2000’s, Sensei co-led, with Acharya Gaylon Ferguson, Ph.D., the very first People of Color weekend non-residential retreats in the Shambhala community (Berkeley and New York).

Presently, Ryūmon Sensei’s practice is focused on preparing for death while still in strong bodymind health, responding to sincere requests for receiving the Buddhist Precepts, continuing to open to love as continuously taught by their feline guru, Nube Poderosa, and, most important, making a good-enough effort to embody fearless intimacy and living compassion with their beloved person Anraku Sensei.