Taiun Michael Elliston began practicing Zen in 1966 With Matsuoka-Roshi at the Chicago Zen Buddhist Temple. He was ordained as a Zen priest in 1970 by Matsuoka-Roshi and in 1983 received full Dharma transmission. Has also studied with Sayrin Barbara Kohn of the Austin Zen Center and Shohaku Okumura of the Sanshin Zen Community. He is the founder and current about of Atlanta Soto Zen Center.