[3] Blanche Hartman was born in Birmingham, Alabama to non-practicing Jewish parents, Joseph Gelders and Esther Frank in 1926.

Educated in the Catholic school system in the early 1930s—and impressed with the religiosity and faith of one teacher—in 1943 she moved to California, where her father served in the military.

During the 1970s, Blanche received training in Nyoho-e – a traditional method for sewing Buddha's robe—in the lineage of Sawaki Kodo Roshi from Kasai Joshin Sensei, formerly of Antaiji.

She and Lou were both ordained as priests by Zentatsu Richard Baker in 1977,[2] and Blanche was given the Buddhist name Zenkei (meaning inconceivable joy).

"[5] Author Sandy Boucher wrote, "She is most interested in the practice of lovingkindness and compassion, taught in a traditional setting and style.