Born Steven Gray in 1962, Adyashanti studied Zen for 14 years under the guidance of his Zen teacher Arvis Joen Justi. Justi was a student of Taizan Maezumi Roshi of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. Gray (Adyashanti) was regularly sent by Arvis to Zen sesshins, where he also studied under Jakusho Kwong Roshi of the Sonoma Mountain Zen Center. At age 25 he began experiencing a series of transformative spiritual awakenings (see Bodhi). In 1996, around eight years later, he was invited to teach by Arvis Joen Justi. However, because Justi never underwent the traditional Zen ceremony of Dharma transmission—though still instructed to teach by Maezumi—Adyashanti is not an official Dharma heir of any particular Zen tradition. Rather he is Arvis Justi's successor in a lay lineage originally authorized by Taizan Maezumi.

Sangha is a term used in several Sanskrit–derived languages of India to refer to a spiritual "assembly" or community, traditionally a monastic one, but its usage varies. Adyashanti founded Open Gate Sangha, Inc. in 1996 when he began teaching. This Sangha refers to both the organization itself and his student community as a whole. The Organization runs on a small staff, as well as many volunteers, and helps coordinate Adya's (as he is called by his students) teaching and travel schedule. It also produces audio, visual and written material for publication.