Claude AnShin Thomas is a fully ordained Zen Buddhist monk in the Soto Zen tradition, having taken vows in 1995. His path has been shaped by a profound life journey: at just 17, he enlisted in the US Army and later served in the Vietnam War. Since then, he has devoted his life to healing the wounds of war on emotional, mental, and spiritual levels.
As the guiding teacher at the Magnolia Zen Center in Mary Esther, Florida, Claude AnShin offers a grounded and deeply compassionate presence for those seeking reflection and inner work. He is also the founder of the Zaltho Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting awareness and nonviolence. His teaching invites participants into a space of honesty, mindfulness, and healing, drawing on both lived experience and the wisdom of Zen practice.