Taishin started practicing Zen with the Santa Barbara Zen Group in 2012. He received the Bodhisattva precepts during a Jukai ceremony in 2015 at the Santa Barbara Zen Center, and again during a Shukke Tokudo ceremony in 2023 at
O-An Zendo. He is a student of Ōshin Jennings, Sensei.

Taishin studies Nyoho-e style sewing in the tradition of Tomoe Katagiri; organizes and leads a Recovery Dharma meeting to support those in recovery from addictions of all kinds (including himself); and writes about the Dharma, recovery, and the intersection of the two for his Substack, “A Phoenix’s Hut.” He is currently learning American Sign Language.

He lives in Milwaukee, WI, with his partner and their two cats.