Though I'd been meditating with one teacher or another since 1966; I consider the early 80's with Hirotaka Okubo Sensei the time when I became 'serious' about my training.
Rev. Kaizan Kosaka is who I consider my root teacher. The training with Kosaka Sensei was in kyudo (Japanese Zen Archery); but it was much more than that. His indepth knowledge and experience in traditional Japanese Culture and arts is amazing.
But the Buddhist Monks path I follow now really began only in 2000 with Rev. Ryugen Watanabe, my Zen Teacher. The training and practices at our temple, Kanzeonji, are in my bones... and a wonderful way to live.
When he asked me to mind the temple for him in 2016, it was an easy answer for me to say, 'of course'. But I realized that although I knew our daily way of living, there were ceremonies and other practices that were not in our daily lives. So I started to visit other Buddhist, temples, to see how things are done beyond our small walls.
Once they recognized me as a Buddhist Priest they gave me the opportunity to participate in their ceremonies. This has been a great experience for me to participate in ceremonies in several Buddhist Sects and temples.
Thank you to all the Temple Priests who have allowed me to join them in their ceremonies.
jyozen
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| Before I was recognized as a priest, I would just participate as a visitor for either regular services, zazen at the Zen Temples, or ceremonies like this Hanamatsuri. |
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Sesshin at Mongolia Zen Temple
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