Reverend Teijo Munnich is a Disciple and Dharma heir of Dainin Katagiri Roshi, studying with him from 1975 until his death in 1990. She received formal training at Catching the Moon Zen Mountain Center in Minnesota, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center in California and Hosshinji in Obama, Japan. Rev. Munnich was ordained as a Zen priest in 1981 and within a couple years, she began to envision a residential practice center and community for women. In 2005, Reverend Munnich opened Great Tree Zen Women’s Temple, a practice center in Alexander, NC.