Full list of my teachers and masters

Full list of my teachers and masters

This is a list of various spiritual, meditative, healing, fine art and martial art teachers from whom I've learned and studied with along the years. Here, by learning, I mean learning of some solid teachings which have then helped me to deepen my own understanding. Of course there are many other people; teachers, practitioners and friends from many different traditions who I still keep in touch with and have dialogues.

See also "All initiations and deity empowerments". 

Teachers with a physical body (not in a specific order)

• Sara Simons (Sivakami Om Anandi, American), liberated teacher, laywoman and a lineage holder of Mahasiddha Thirumular, Babaji and the mahasiddhas. My heart teacher.
• Terayama Tanchu Sensei (1938-2007, Japanese). Master of Zen, Budo/Ken and Sho. Founder of the Hitsuzenkai -zen calligraphy community of Japan. Dharma heir of Omori Sogen Roshi and successor of Yokoyama Tenkei Sensei from Jubokudo school of calligraphy.
• Harada Shodo Roshi (1940- , Japanese). Zen master of the Rinzai school. Founder of the worldwide One Drop Zen-organization. Dharma heir of Yamada Mumon Roshi.
• Harada Tangen Roshi, the Old Buddha (Japanese). Zen master of the Sanbo Kyodan school. Dharma heir of Harada Daiun Sogaku Roshi.
• Sante Poromaa & Kanja Odland. Zen teachers of the Zenbuddhistiska Samfundet, based in Sweden.
• Mingyur Rinpoche, Mahamudra and Dzogchen-master, son of Tulku Urgyen.
• John Lewis (British), Founder of the Finnish School of Shiatsu.
• Zhang Changwang (Chinese), Yiquan master in the lineage of Yao Zongxun and Wang Xiangzhai.
• Takemi Sasamori (Japanese), head master (soke) of Ono-ha Itto Ryu kenjutsu.
• Hiruta Sensei (Japanese), head of the Ichikukai Dojo in Tokyo (zen and shintoist misogi-practices).
• Dogen Christophe Pontal (French), martial arts teacher and a long time student of Harada Shodo Roshi (zen), soke Shiokawa Terushige (martial arts) and Kanshu Sunadomari Sensei (Founder of Manseikan Aikido, successor of the founder of aikido, Morihei Ueshiba).
• Ashok Immaneni, A liberated mystic and a teacher of mantric and Indian vocals.
• Rami Salo (Finnish), Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan teacher.
• Pasi Pölönen (Finnish), Yiquan teacher in the tradition of Zhang Changwang.
• Juhani Kuittinen (Finnish), Aikido teacher, Shumpukai.
• Jyrki Rytilä (Finnish), Daitoryu Aikijujutsu Takumakai (5. dan), one-on-one
• Petteri Silenius (Finnish), Aikido teacher (Aikikai 6. dan), one-on-one
• Peter Rocca, Soto Zen-teacher in the lineage of Gudo Nishijima Roshi.
  

• Sri Mata Amritananda Mayi Devi (Indian), World known ”Hugging Saint”.
• Paramahamsa Prajnanananda (Indian), Kriya Yoga master, a successor of Paramahamsa Hariharananda.
• 14^th Dalai Lama (Tibetan), Both political and spiritual leader of Tibet, head of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Lama Thubten Gonpo Tsering
  

Masters without a physical body

Received teachings named after each master. You can find information of these mahasiddhas by web search.

• Mahasiddha Thirumular. My root guru. One of the legendary Shaivite saints. Author of Thirumandiram which is considered one of the most important root texts of Shaivite tantrism.
  Teachings received: Basic and advanced yoga tantra, Diamond Body-practices.
• Mahasiddha Babaji. An immortal yogi-master known to world through Yogananda's Autobiography of A Yogi. Babaji is the silently guiding hand behind spiritually oriented martial arts, among other things.
  Teachings received: Basic and advanced yoga tantra, and Zen Budo (taught by myself).
• Mahasiddha Bogarnatha. Great immortal master of yoga tantra, alchemy, medicine and science. Teachings received: Advanced yoga tantra.
• Mahasiddha Agastya. Great immortal master known of many classic texts of various topics.
  Teachings received: Advanced yoga tantra. 
• Mahasiddha Padmashambhava, Great Dzogchen-master.
  Teachings received: Thogal - Immortal Diamond Body-practice and Yangti. 
• Mahasiddha Vimalamitra. Great Dzogchen-master. 
  Teachings received: Vimalamitra Yoga (physical series), Wisdom Meditations (shamatha and vipashyana), Dzogchen Thogal (Rainbow Body-practices, Dzogchen) and Yangti, and two distinct types of rigpa as taught in Dzogchen.
• Mahasiddha Garab Dorje. Great Dzogchen-master. The same person as Swami Sri Yukteswar, a great master of Kriya Yoga, guru of Paramahamsa Yogananda. Teachings received: Two distinct types of rigpa as taught in Dzogchen.
• Mahasiddha Machig Lapdron (Tibetan). Great Tibetan lady mystic and a yogini. Teachings received: Complete Chöd-teachings and Tibetan Hatha Yoga (taught by  Open Heart).
• Mahasiddha Ayu Khandro (Tibetan, 1839–1953). Great 20^th century yogini from Tibet who attained Rainbow Body through Dzogchen and Tantric practices. Spent over 80 years of her life in solitary retreat.
  Teachings received: Tibetan Heart Yoga-teachings offered by Samadhi Path.
• Mahasiddha Lieh Tsu or Liezi (Chinese). Immortal master, one of the founding fathers of Taoism.
  Teachings received: Tai Chi Chuan and the essence of internal martial arts.
• Mahasiddha Zhang Sanfeng (Chinese). Immortal master, one of the founding fathers of Taoism, considered the founder of Tai Chi Chuan, the Chinese martial and health art.
  Teachings received: Tai Chi Chuan and the essence of internal martial arts. 
• Mahasiddha Dampa Sangye. Teachings received: Mahamudra Chöd and yoga tantra.
  

• Gogen Yamaguchi (1909-1989), Master of Okinawan Karate.
  Teachings received: Essence of budo.  
• O-sensei Morihei Ueshiba (1883-1969), Founder of Aikido.
  Teachings received: Chinkon Kishin and kototama, art of kiai and the essence of budo. Initiations to Shinto deities.
  

I still continue to receive instructions from different mahasiddhas, as well as communicate with physical teachers as well.

I am humbly greatful for the friendship, help and guidance I've received from all of these teachers and master. My heartfelt gratitude and bows to all of them!

- Kim, 9.1.2015.

Updated: 31.1.2016.