Kin Shin, Stephen J. D’Antonio is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He became interested in Buddhist practice circa 2009 after a friend, who was a student of the New Orleans Zen Temple, explained the Four Noble Truths to him in a conversation over chicory coffee and beignets. 

In 2010, he took root in Katog Choling, a New Orleans sangha organized under the direction of Khentrul Lodro Thaye Rinpoche in directive from H.H. Katog Moksa Rinpoche to bring Tibetan teachings to the southern United States. Kin Shin carried Tonglen practice into a local drug and alcohol treatment center bi-monthly in support of its mission “Rebuilding the lives of men with honor, dignity & respect.”

Kin Shin began practicing Zen in 2018 and he participated in Mondo Zen training facilitated by Rev. Shunya Prajna, Lynn Hyer. He took “stream enterer’s vows”, Jukai, in the Hollow Bones Rinzai Order and is now a student of Roshi Vimala Muni, John Nemick, founder of the Green Bay Zen Center.

Now a resident of Green Bay, Kin Shin is an active practitioner within the Green Bay Zen Center. Deep elements of his practice include passionate work aligned with the 12 step model of recovery, uncovering Zen within the sport of bowling, as well as keeping his Jukai witness, who is his beloved fiancé saying, “OMG” concerning his jocular antics.

Kin Shin’s amalgamated training in the heart elements of Tibetan teachings fused with the Rinzai edge of Zen discipline is ingeniously condensed into a comment once directed to him by his first teacher, his mother, “I want to kiss you and slap you at the same time!”