The Reverend John Magnum Scorsine was ordained as a Buddhist Minister in 2009 through the International Order of Buddhist Ministers and the Los Angeles Buddhist Union.   John serves as a volunteer, associate, chaplain within the Colorado Department of Corrections and has held that position since 2010. He is the only Buddhist Chaplain in the State of Colorado’s prison system and a member of the American Correctional Chaplain’s Association. Prior to becoming a chaplain, John had been a faith group advisor for approximately 7 years within Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility. Twice a month, he teaches Buddhist philosophy and meditation within the prison. He has previously served on the Board of Directors of the Liberation Prison Project, an affiliate of the Foundation for the Preservation of the Mahayana Tradition.

John began his study of Buddhism in 1991. Having decided to focus his practice in the Tibetan Gelug tradition, he took Refuge Vows in 2003. Since that time, he has received various empowerments including the Kalachakra, Hayagriva, and Green Tara. John frequently volunteers at U.S. based teachings of the Dalai Lama.   He attended the 2010 U.N. International Day of Vesak in Bangkok as an observer and attended as an U.S. Delegate for the 2011 and 2012 Conferences.  He has presented papers at several conferences on topics involving Buddhist ethics and on socially engaged Buddhism.

John completed the requirements for a Master's of Art degree from the University of Sunderland (UK) in the field of Buddhist Studies in 2009. His degree was awarded "with distinction".  His original research included in depth interviews with leaders of the Tibetan Government in Exile to include His Holiness the Dalai Lama. 

John considers engagement in the community to be an active part of his personal practice. As such, he is a volunteer fire fighter and intermediate emergency medical technician in the Ellicott Fire Protection District and on the El Paso County Medical Response Team; serves on the El Paso County Emergency Service Agency Board; is active in the Orient Land Trust, a nature conservancy in central Colorado; and, local professional organizations.  

Professionally, John is the founder/chief counsel for The Kanthaka Group, a law firm and business consulting services focused on governmental contracting in the federal sector.  John is admitted to practice law in all Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming Courts, the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, the U.S. Army Court of Criminal Appeals and the U.S. Supreme Court. A retired member of the Colorado National Guard, after 22 years, he held the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps and was qualified as a military judge. His last assignment was to the United States Northern Command where he was recognized as a legal expert in the law of defense support to civilian authorities, emergency management, and domestic intelligence law.