Doka is the founder and resident teacher of Hinotori Zendo 火の鳥. She holds several degrees in various fields, including doctorate in science. Doka utilizes her background as a scientist, artist, athlete, naturalist, business professional, parent and realized person to establish a unique Zen Buddhist style of training – a blend of traditional and modern insights. 

She has over 50 years of experience in various spiritual teachings and is officially ordained in the Soto Zen and Shaolin Chan lineages. Her spiritual studies began at a young age and covered Western and Eastern teachings and practices that she had received from masters of various traditions: Yoga, Tibetan Buddhism (Tantric), Rinzai Zen, Soto Zen, Shaolin Chan Buddhism, Confucianism, Daoism (Longmen, Neidan Xi). She lived for a while as a secluded hermit in Asia and Europe to complete spiritual refinement. 

Some of her spiritual studies have been conducted in the traditional way and according to the ancient rules, which allow the transmission of the highest spiritual cultivation practices only to a few of the most advanced students.