Michel Oltheten (1954, The Netherlands) started zen practice in 1993 while working as CEO of an industrial organisation and later as therapist and counselor. In 1994 he became a student of Catherine Genno Pagès Roshi, of the Dana Sangha Paris France. He received dharma-transmission (shiho) from her in 2014, and became a teacher in the White Plum lineage. He is the resident teacher of the Zen Heart Sangha of the Netherlands and teaches the practice of wholeheartedly sitting (shikantaza) and Koan.

He’s the husband of Helen and they together have three children and a two grandchildren.