About us

Dr. Alan Sidi was a student of Daiyu Myokyo Zenji and teaches classes at the Zen Centre and the Buddhist Society, where he served as a council member for many years. He is also one of London’s top specialists in the field of implant and gum surgery and continues to lecture in Guy’s Hospital post-graduate programme.

Jamie Shavadia is a Zen Buddhist practitioner who trained for more than two decades at the London Zen Centre. He is a qualified psychotherapist whose work integrates cognitive, behavioural and mindfulness-based psychology. He has collaborated with Martin Goodson on The Zen Gateway’s two major podcast series: ‘Zen Bites’ and ‘Transcending Mindfulness’.

Jenny Hall had a long career in bilingual education before she started Zen training under the guidance of Master Daiyu and Martin Goodson in 1997. She taught English in the UK and Sweden for over twenty-five years, and more recently has contributed numerous talks and commentaries to The Zen Gateway, most notably her long-running exposition of the classical Buddhist text, the Dhammapada

Katharine Haggiag joined the Buddhist Society and the Zen Centre in the late 1970s and trained with Daiyu Myokyo Zenji until her death in 2007. She has given dharma talks and contributed articles to ‘Zen Trace’s, the Zen Centre’s in-house magazine, as well as articles for the Zen Gateway. In addition, she is the acclaimed author of the Angelina Ballerina children’s books.

Sophie Walker is a member of The Zen Gateway editorial board. She is a garden designer, writer and lecturer whose work focuses on the intersection of landscape, art, philosophy and Japanese culture. The youngest woman to design a garden at London’s world-famous Chelsea Flower Show, she is best known for her landmark book, The Japanese Garden.

Michael Haggiag began his training with Master Daiyu in the late 1970s, when she was librarian at the Buddhist Society in London, and continued to train with her until her death in 2007. A former publisher and television producer, he was assistant editor of the Buddhist Society’s journal, the Middle Way, and a trustee of the Buddhist Society Company before co-founding The Zen Gateway.

Dr. Alan Sidi was a student of Daiyu Myokyo Zenji and teaches classes at the Zen Centre and the Buddhist Society, where he served as a council member for many years. He is also one of London’s top specialists in the field of implant and gum surgery and continues to lecture in Guy’s Hospital post-graduate programme.

Johnny Eskenazi, now retired, was one of the preeminent Asian art dealers in the UK with special expertise in Indian, Chinese and Japanese Buddhist sculpture and ceramics. He has travelled widely in the Far East, where he fell in love with the teachings of the Buddha. He believes Buddhism is the key to compassion, self-knowledge, and understanding others.

Bruce Ginsberg is the former Chairman of the Buddhist Society Company. He practiced with Daiyu Myokyo Zenji from 1976 to her death in 2007. An importer of fine Chinese teas, and former grower of rooibos, the South African red tea, he is an accomplished Zen garden designer who lectures at London University’s School of Oriental and Asian Studies (SOAS).