Daihonzan Chozen-ji

Daihonzan Chozen-ji (大本山超禅寺) is a Rinzai Zen temple located in Kalihi Valley on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. It was established in 1972 by Omori Sogen and Tenshin Tanouye.[1]

Daihonzan Chozen-ji
Religion
AffiliationRinzai
Location
Location3565 Kalihi Street, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96819
CountryUnited States
Architecture
FounderTenshin Tanouye, Omori Sogen
Website
www.chozen-ji.org

History

In 1970 Omori Sogen and Tenshin Tanouye met in Japan. Tanouye, a music teacher at Farrington High School, trained with Sogen in Japan during summer vacations.[2] Together they established the framework for Chozen-ji and its unique perspective on Zen, combining meditation, martial arts, and fine art.[3]

In 1976 Chozen-ji moved to its current location in the back of Kalihi Valley.[1]

In 1979 Omori Sogen established Chozen-ji as a Daihonzan, the main temple and headquarters of a new line of Zen.[4] This made Chozen-ji the "first Rinzai headquarters temple established outside of Japan."[5]

The temple has been popular among Hawaii's business and political elites,[2] as well as welcoming people from all walks of life and religious affiliations.[6]

Training approach

Spiritual training at Chozen-ji is integrated with the practice of martial and fine arts, such as archery, ceramics and kendo.[7] It is highly physical, with an emphasis on breath and posture.[5]

Chozen-ji was established as a place to bring shugyō (the deepest possible spiritual training) to the West and cultivate kiai, or vibration, in every aspect of life.[6]

Abbot

The founding abbot was Tenshin Tanouye.[6] The current abbot is Daian Sayama.[6]

Activities

Chozen-ji hosts daily zazen and holds regular fine arts and martial arts classes.[1]

References
  1. Rees, Robert M. (June 13, 2004). "Way of Zen enlightens followers in Kalihi Valley". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  2. Cheng, Martha (July 2018). "Kalihi Zen". Hana Hou!. Retrieved 2018-07-14.
  3. Dogen, Hosokawa (1999). Omori Sogen: The Art of a Zen Master. Routledge. p. 82. ISBN 9780710305886.
  4. "Hawai'i Zen master Tanouye dies". The Honolulu Advertiser. January 18, 2003. Retrieved 2018-02-13.
  5. Greene, Gordon (2017). Masuda & O'Donahue (ed.). Handbook of Zen, Mindfulness, and Behavioral Health. Springer International Publishing. p. 304. ISBN 978-3-319-54593-6.
  6. Tanigawa, Noe. "Chozen-ji: Art as Spirit Practice". Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  7. "Honolulu's Unique Zen Archery School Teaches Enlightened Way to Reach Target". LA Times.
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