Bob is the dharma successor of Sensei Rose Mary Myoan Dougherty, in the lineage of the White Plum Asanga, transmitted on September 15, 2015. Empowered to teach and to transmit the dharma, he is also a member of the Zen Peacemakers and is grateful for the way it has shaped his practice in all of life. He writes and teaches haiku as a practice of being fully in the present moment. He received the precepts at Boundless Way Zen from James Ford, David Rynick, & Melissa Blacker. Bob is a retired federal attorney and lives in Annapolis with his wife, Phyllis. Together they are facilitators of a Mindfulness Practice Group at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis. In his spare time, Bob collects fossils, with his daughter Hallie when he can (They began when she was 4 - she's in her 30’s now). Sensei Bob also is part of many Zen Peacemakers Bearing Witness retreats, and helps to coordinate Street Retreats in Washington DC. He teaches weekly Haiku as practice. To sign up for his mailing list, contact him at RobertErtman@msn.com.

Rebecca MuSeiDo Hawes (Sensei Rebecca) is the dharma successor of Sensei Bob JinGen Ertman, empowered to teach and transmit the dharma in the lineage of the White Plum Asanga on May 11, 2024. She received the Precepts at One Heart Sangha from Sensei Bob JinGen Ertman and Sensei Martine TaiKai Palmiter in May, 2023, at which time she also became Dharma Holder to Sensei Ertman. Sensei Rebecca is actively engaged in Householder Life. She lives in a lively, intergenerational, household and holds a full-time job in federal public service as a health scientist and policy analyst. She is committed to the democratization of data and science, and, to the belief that it is incumbent upon those of us engaged in public health to connect the so-what’s from research, across the sciences as well as to the public. This commitment extends to her zen teaching approach - everyday life is practice, there is nothing missing. When she’s not at her desk or sitting with her sangha, you’ll find Sensei Rebecca drinking way too much coffee, walking the local woods, hills and beaches, attending her daughter’s figure skating events, and, playing board games alone or with family and friends.  As well as teaching at One Heart Sangha, Rebecca is engaged in a two-year study program with the Zen Peacemakers Order.

In Memoriam

Rose Mary Myoan Dougherty, Sensei (1939-2019)

Rose Mary founded One Heart Sangha and served as the first Guiding Teacher. She began practicing Zen as a student of Charlotte Joko Beck in the 1980’s, and then joined Clare Sangha in Baltimore with Roshi Janet Jinne Richardson. In 2006, she was empowered to teach and transmit the lineage of White Plum Asanga and founded the sangha. She has left a strong dharma tradition in One Heart Sangha. Gate Gate Paragate Parasamgate Bodhi Svaha! Peaceful strong teacher, continuing to transmit the dharma in all ways.

Sensei Dougherty’s Memorial Page