Roshi Amala Wrightson was the Rochester Zen Center’s Head of Zendo (head priest in charge of training) working closely with Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede from 1996 to 2003. In late 2003, upon completion of formal koan training under Roshi Kjolhede, Amala-roshi returned to resettle in New Zealand and, since then, has dedicated her time to the creation of a place for authentic Zen practice and training in Auckland. She was given formal permission to teach by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede in 2004, and in the same year she and and her husband, Richard von Sturmer, co-founded the Auckland Zen Centre. Amala-roshi was sanctioned as a full Dharma heir in 2012. She continues to spend some time most years at the Rochester Zen Center. The following are among her more recent teisho (Dharma talks).