About
The Rev. Dr. Joshua R. Paszkiewicz (in ecclesia Sunyananda Dharmacarya) is an integrative voice at the intersection of the healing arts, spirituality, and the academy. A Zen master and bishop, psychotherapist and registered nurse, professor and artist, he embodies a rare synthesis of clinical expertise, spiritual depth, and intellectual breadth.
His work navigates the liminal spaces between disciplines — where science meets symbol, healing meets holiness, and complexity is embraced as sacred ground.With academic roots extending across the domains of psychology and religion, public health and business management, and from nursing to nutrition, Dr. Paszkiewicz holds a litany of credentials, including doctorates in healthcare administration, and pastoral psychotherapy.
He is a multiply board-certified healthcare provider, Licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Registered Nurse (RN), he is specifically credentialed in holistic nursing (HN-BC), psychiatric - mental health nursing (PMH-BC), infection prevention and control (a-IPC), clinical mental health counseling, and clinical chaplaincy (BCC/CPES), and is currently pursuing certification in Chinese Medicine Psychiatry and Lifestyle Medicine.
Joshua’s clinical training has included a residency in clinical pastoral care and pastoral analysis at the University of Kansas Hospital, a yearlong internship in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and a fellowship with the Greater Kansas City Psychoanalytic Institute. His healthcare work has ranged from leading psychiatric emergency departments and directing university-based wellness centers, to maintaining a private psychotherapy practice rooted in depth psychology, mindfulness, and meaning-centered care.
Spiritually, Joshua is equally at home in the meditation hall as at the altar. He is a fully transmitted Zen Buddhist master in the Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese lineages, and an experienced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT) formed in bhakti yoga tradition (during his time as a monk in India). In parallel, he is a bishop consecrated in the Independent Sacramental tradition. Across these traditions, Joshua is known as a contemplative guide, spiritual director, and liturgical leader who upholds the currents of ancient wisdom within the context of present realities.
As an author, he has written extensively on contemplative life and comparative religion. His publications include Zen and Happiness, Zen Buddhism: Your Personal Guide to Practice and Tradition, Indian Spirituality: An Exploration of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, and an upcoming text entitled Christian Mysticism: A Contemporary Guide to Realizing the Kingdom of God. His works have been translated into multiple languages and serve as accessible gateways for both seekers and scholars.
In the academy, Dr. Paszkiewicz serves as Associate Professor of Counseling at Central Seminary, where he also serves as a doctoral advisor. He is a widely respected educator who has taught at both graduate and undergraduate levels, bringing a deeply integrative perspective to the formation of clinicians, clergy, and chaplains. He has presented at international academic conferences, including the United Nations’ Day of Vesak, and was a delegate to the first White House Buddhist Leaders Conference. As a scholar and public thinker, Joshua is a Senior Research Fellow of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry.
Beyond his clinical, spiritual, and academic contributions, Joshua is also a trained chef, certified in culinary medicine coaching. He holds professional designations from the American Culinary Federation and Harvard’s Institute of Lifestyle Medicine. His work in food, physical culture, and embodiment extends to credentials as a certified personal trainer (CPT), certified nutrition coach (CNC), and practitioner of Asian bodywork modalities, including the sekkotsu and shiatsu approaches.
A master-level practitioner and teacher in multiple martial arts disciplines, he holds advanced black belt ranks in jujutsu, kempo, taekwondo, and hapkido. He serves as Secretary-General of the International Jun Tong Mu Sool Kwan and President and Grandmaster of the Korean Bulgyo Musool Association. His teaching blends martial discipline with contemplative insight and ethical formation.
At the heart of his vast and varied work is a commitment to wholeness. Whether guiding an individual through the inner terrain of healing, accompanying a community through transition, or articulating a vision of integrative wisdom for a complex world, Dr. Paszkiewicz invites others to approach life — and one another — with presence, reverence, and the courage to dwell in mystery.
Academic Credentials:
North American Degrees:
International Degrees:
Professional Certificates and Diplomas:
Current Licenses:
Professional Nursing:
Clinical Chaplaincy:
Allied Health:
Martial Arts Credentials:
Ordinations and Empowerments:
Awards and Honors:
Professional Memberships and Affiliations:
Personal Memberships and Affiliations:
Selected Publications:
Retired Positions, Credentials, and Registrations:
His work navigates the liminal spaces between disciplines — where science meets symbol, healing meets holiness, and complexity is embraced as sacred ground.With academic roots extending across the domains of psychology and religion, public health and business management, and from nursing to nutrition, Dr. Paszkiewicz holds a litany of credentials, including doctorates in healthcare administration, and pastoral psychotherapy.
He is a multiply board-certified healthcare provider, Licensed as a Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) and Registered Nurse (RN), he is specifically credentialed in holistic nursing (HN-BC), psychiatric - mental health nursing (PMH-BC), infection prevention and control (a-IPC), clinical mental health counseling, and clinical chaplaincy (BCC/CPES), and is currently pursuing certification in Chinese Medicine Psychiatry and Lifestyle Medicine.
Joshua’s clinical training has included a residency in clinical pastoral care and pastoral analysis at the University of Kansas Hospital, a yearlong internship in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and a fellowship with the Greater Kansas City Psychoanalytic Institute. His healthcare work has ranged from leading psychiatric emergency departments and directing university-based wellness centers, to maintaining a private psychotherapy practice rooted in depth psychology, mindfulness, and meaning-centered care.
Spiritually, Joshua is equally at home in the meditation hall as at the altar. He is a fully transmitted Zen Buddhist master in the Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese lineages, and an experienced registered yoga teacher (E-RYT) formed in bhakti yoga tradition (during his time as a monk in India). In parallel, he is a bishop consecrated in the Independent Sacramental tradition. Across these traditions, Joshua is known as a contemplative guide, spiritual director, and liturgical leader who upholds the currents of ancient wisdom within the context of present realities.
As an author, he has written extensively on contemplative life and comparative religion. His publications include Zen and Happiness, Zen Buddhism: Your Personal Guide to Practice and Tradition, Indian Spirituality: An Exploration of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, and Sikhism, and an upcoming text entitled Christian Mysticism: A Contemporary Guide to Realizing the Kingdom of God. His works have been translated into multiple languages and serve as accessible gateways for both seekers and scholars.
In the academy, Dr. Paszkiewicz serves as Associate Professor of Counseling at Central Seminary, where he also serves as a doctoral advisor. He is a widely respected educator who has taught at both graduate and undergraduate levels, bringing a deeply integrative perspective to the formation of clinicians, clergy, and chaplains. He has presented at international academic conferences, including the United Nations’ Day of Vesak, and was a delegate to the first White House Buddhist Leaders Conference. As a scholar and public thinker, Joshua is a Senior Research Fellow of the International Society for Philosophical Enquiry.
Beyond his clinical, spiritual, and academic contributions, Joshua is also a trained chef, certified in culinary medicine coaching. He holds professional designations from the American Culinary Federation and Harvard’s Institute of Lifestyle Medicine. His work in food, physical culture, and embodiment extends to credentials as a certified personal trainer (CPT), certified nutrition coach (CNC), and practitioner of Asian bodywork modalities, including the sekkotsu and shiatsu approaches.
A master-level practitioner and teacher in multiple martial arts disciplines, he holds advanced black belt ranks in jujutsu, kempo, taekwondo, and hapkido. He serves as Secretary-General of the International Jun Tong Mu Sool Kwan and President and Grandmaster of the Korean Bulgyo Musool Association. His teaching blends martial discipline with contemplative insight and ethical formation.
At the heart of his vast and varied work is a commitment to wholeness. Whether guiding an individual through the inner terrain of healing, accompanying a community through transition, or articulating a vision of integrative wisdom for a complex world, Dr. Paszkiewicz invites others to approach life — and one another — with presence, reverence, and the courage to dwell in mystery.
Academic Credentials:
North American Degrees:
- DHA - Doctor of Healthcare Administration in Healthcare Research, Teaching, & Leadership (Virginia University of Lynchburg)
- DMin - Doctor of Ministry in Pastoral Psychotherapy and Supervision (The Graduate Institute, CPSP)
- MA - Master of Arts in Counseling (Central Seminary)
- MAR - Master of Arts in Religion (Graceland University)
- MSN - Master of Science in Public Health (Herzing University, Expected 8/2025)
- GCert - Graduate Certificate in Zen Buddhist Studies (Shin Institute of Buddhist Studies, Expected 2026)
- BA - Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies (Thomas Edison State University)
- ADN - Associate Degree in Nursing (Rasmussen University)
- AS - Associate of Science in Healthcare Administration (Ashworth College)
- AAS - Associate of Applied Science in General Studies (Pierpont Technical and Community College)
- Diploma - Nutrition, Food, and Health Science (Ashworth College)
International Degrees:
- MBA - Master of Business Administration (University of Isabel I)
- MHRM - Master of Human Resource Management (University of Isabel I)
- MNFD - Master in Nutrition, Food, and Dietetics (Latin American College of Advanced Education)
- MA - Master of Arts in Social Sciences (Swiss School of Business and Trade)
Professional Certificates and Diplomas:
- Post-Doctoral Certificate in Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy (Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies)
- Faith Community Nursing Certificate (West Virginia University School of Nursing and the Westberg Institute)
- Professional Certificate in Lifestyle Medicine (Doane University)
- Personal Chef Specialization Certificate (American Culinary Federation)
- Culinary Health Education Fundamentals (CHEF) Coach (Harvard Medical School/Institute of Lifestyle Medicine)
- National Certificate of Achievement in Culinary Arts (NRAEF/Nevada Regional Technical Center)
Current Licenses:
- Registered Nurse, RN (Kansas Board of Nursing - #14-159706-051)
- Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC (Kansas Behavioral Sciences Regulatory Board - #LCPC0385)
- Licensed Professional Counselor, LPC (Missouri Committee for Professional Counselors - #2025009349)
Professional Nursing:
- Board Certified Psychiatric - Mental Health Nurse, PMH-BC (American Nurses Credentialing Center - #2024068377)
- Board Certified Holistic Nurse, HN-BC (American Holistic Nurses Credentialing Corporation - #20566H1)
- Associate - Infection Prevention and Control, a-IPC (Certification Board of Infection Control and Epidemiology - #135044)
- National Certified Counselor, NCC (National Board for Certified Counselors - #1736438)
- Diplomate Supervisor in Clinical Pastoral Psychotherapy Training, Dipl. (College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy)
- Board Certified Pastoral Psychotherapist, PP (Spiritual Care Association)
Clinical Chaplaincy:
- Certified Clinical Pastoral Education Supervisor, CPES (Spiritual Care Association)
- Board Certified Chaplain, BCC (Spiritual Care Association)
- Board Certified Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor, BCCC/BCPC (College of Pastoral Supervision & Psychotherapy)
Allied Health:
- Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher, E-RYT 200 (Yoga Alliance)
- Certified Nutrition Coach, CNC (National Academy of Sports Medicine - #1241399235)
- Certified Personal Trainer, CPT (National Academy of Sports Medicine - #1241412901)
- Certified Kiatsu Educator (Genkido Association)
Martial Arts Credentials:
- Headmaster: Chang Ryong Kwon Bup & Korean Bulgyo Musool Association
- Secretary General: International Jun Tong Mu Sool Kwan
- Dan Holder: Hapkido, Jujutsu, Ryukyu Kempo, Taekwondo, Tukkong Mu Sool
- Licensed Instructor and Chartered School Owner: International Jun Tong Mu Sool Kwan, International Korean Martial Arts Federation, World Kido Federation, Hanminjok Hapkido Association, Hakkoryu Kodo Renmei, Tai Ki Budo Kai
Ordinations and Empowerments:
- Zen Buddhist Tradition:
- 86th Generation Lineage Holder (Sensei) - White Plum Zen Lineage (by Tendo Fusho Roshi)
- 81st Generation Lineage Holder (Seon Sa) - Deok Seung Zen Lineage (by Wonji Dochong Seonsanim)
- 78th Generation Lineage Holder (Jong Sa) - Il Bung Zen Lineage (by Seon Hae Daejongsanim)
- Transmission as "Great Master" (Thượng Tọa) - Lam Te Zen Lineage (by Hoa Thuong T. Nhu Minh)
- Professed Sramana - Dharmaguptaka Zen Buddhist Lineage (by Suhitananda Mahathera)
- Independent Sacramental Movement:
- Consecrated Bishop - Ancient Apostolic Church of Alexandria (by D.O. Kling, C. Chalmers, and L. Wilson)
- Consecrated Abbot Nullius Diœceseos (by C. Kroski, J. Sunderland, M. Smith)
- Ordained Priest (by C. Kroski, J. Sunderland, M. Smith)
Awards and Honors:
- Commissioned Kentucky Colonel (Commonwealth of Kentucky, Office of the Governor)
- Inductee of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing (ΣΘΤ)
Professional Memberships and Affiliations:
- Member, American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)
- Member, American Nurses Association/Kansas Nurses Association (ANA)
- Member, American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA)
- Diplomate, College of Pastoral Supervision and Psychotherapy (CPSP)
- Certificant, Spiritual Care Association (SCA)
Personal Memberships and Affiliations:
- Member, White Plum Asanga
- Member, Lay Zen Teacher's Association
- Senior Research Fellow, International Society for Philosophical Enquiry (ISPE)
- Member, Intertel
- Member, American Mensa
- Colonel, Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
Selected Publications:
- Paszkiewicz, J. R. (2012). Tukkong Military Arts: Lessons from the Korean Special Forces. Taekwondo Times, 32(5), 40–44.
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2022). Zen and Happiness: Practical Insights and Meditations to Cultivate Joy in Everyday Life. Rockridge Press. [ISBN: 9781638784784]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2023). Zen Buddhism: Your Personal Guide to Zen Teachings. Wellfleet Press. [ISBN: 9781577153658]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2024). Indian Spirituality: An Exploration of Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh Tradtitions. Wellfleet Press. [ISBN: 9781577154259]
- Paszkiewicz, J. R. (2024) Budismo zen: Guía personal de la práctica y la tradición espiritual. Librero. [ISBN: 9788411540407]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2024). Zen boeddhisme: Pad naar een zinvoller en gelukkiger leven. Librero. [ISBN: 9789463596992]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2024). Zen Buddhismus: Ein persönlicher Ratgeber zu Praxis und Tradition. Librero. [ISBN: 9789463597005]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2024). Zen si fericirea: Exercitii practice si meditatii pentru cultivarea bucuriei in fiecare zi. Niculescu. [ISBN: 9786063809774]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2025). Indische Spiritualität: Eine Erforschung der hinduistischen, jainistischen, buddhistischen und sikhistischen Traditionen. Librero. [ISBN: 978-94-6499-044-7]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2025).Indiase spiritualiteit: Een verkenning van de hindoeïstische, jaïnistische, boeddhistische en sikh-tradities. Librero. [ISBN: 978-94-6499-042-3]
- Paszkiewicz, J.R. (2025). Espiritualidad india: Una introduccion a las tradiciones hindu, janista, budista y sij. Librero. [ISBN: 978-94-6499-043-0]
Retired Positions, Credentials, and Registrations:
- Special Correspondent (Taekwondo Times)