Arno Hess – Zen Teacher

Arno Hess is a Brisbane-based Zen Buddhist teacher, and the founder of Pathway Zen, where he guides students in Zen-meditation and koan practice within the Sanbozen tradition. 

He is a dharma successor of Mervyn Lander Roshi and has also been formally recognised as a Zen teacher by Yamada Ryoun Roshi, his preceptor and the Abbot of the Sanbozen school of Zen in Japan, who gave him the teaching name Shû’un Ken (Eagle Cloud).

Besides teaching Zen, Arno established the Inside Mindfulness Program, a secular, mindfulness based emotional intelligence course adapted from the Path of Freedom curriculum developed by the Prison Mindfulness Institute in the US. With the support of a dedicated team of volunteers, the program is now offered in six correctional centres in Queensland. He also facilitates a follow-on practice-group called the Focus Program, an advanced meditation course in partnership with the Australian Association of Buddhist Chaplains.

Arno has studied in a range of spiritual traditions and holds a Master’s degree in Applied Buddhist Studies.

Before dedicating himself to Zen practice, Arno worked in the business world, where he co-founded a manufacturing company specialising in pharmaceutical machinery. His ongoing interest lies in integrating Zen into everyday life, and in supporting others to do the same.

He can be contacted at: arno.hess@pathwayzen.org.au