​Charlie Laurel is the guiding teacher for Sunflower Zen Sangha. He started formal zen practice in the late 1980's. Pat Hawk Roshi was Charlie Laurel's primary teacher from 1998 to 2006. Over the years, Hawk Roshi conferred full teaching authority (transmission) to six of his students, including Robert Walker. Charlie continues to study with Walker Roshi. In 2024 Walker Roshi confirmed Charlie Laurel as an Associate Zen Teacher. Charlie is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, an amateur musician; married with family, garden and home repair projects, dogs, and deep concerns for ecological and social wellbeing. ​

Zen Buddhism has come to the US and other Western lands through many lineages of teachers. As far back in history as there have been immigrants arriving from across the Pacific there have been Buddhist temples and communities keeping their traditions alive in new lands. Over time, people from European backgrounds started taking interest in Buddhism, some researching from academic backgrounds, and some trying out Buddhist practices seeking spiritual transformation their own lives. In the 1950's and 60's a few Westerns started traveling to Japan to fully immerse themselves in traditional Zen practice. They forged relationships with Japanese teachers who, in turn, came to the US to guide Western seekers and converts. Robert Aitken was one of the early Westerners who devoted himself to making authentic Zen practice available to people in the US, Europe and Australia. He accepted the formal sanctioning, "Dharma Transmission", for teaching Zen from Yamada Koun Roshi, in the tradition of Sanbo Kyodan--a lineage that unites Rinzai and Soto Zen schools. Aitken founded the Diamond Sangha in the early 70's, functioning independently from the Sanbo Kyodan. Many branching streams of Zen have issued since from The Diamond Sangha. Some teachers have opted to remain formally associated with the Diamond Sangha, others have opted to teach independently or form new Zen streams. Charlie Laurel is not formally associated with the Diamond Sangha; he expresses great appreciation and gratitude for the fortitude and guidance of the lineage. He draws upon many of the ritual forms and conventions of the Diamond Sangha in his teaching endeavors.

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