About

Chozen-ji: Zen Temple Beyond Zen

Unlike any other Zen temple

Since its establishment in 1972, people have come to Chozen-ji to discover their True Selves and to make a greater impact on Hawaiʻi and the world. Our approach to Zen training is based in the body—emphasizing breath and posture—and creates leaders with a bold fighting spirit and strong ki'ai. This far reaching impact on the world is in keeping with our designation as the only Daihonzan, or central temple, outside of Japan.

A vibrant community training in the Way

Chozen-ji plays several roles in the local community—a monastery for those doing shugyo, a community temple where lay people train daily in various forms of Rinzai Zen, and a place where members of Hawaii’s diverse local population gather and put their Zen training to work. There is also a vibrant community of students training in the Chozen-ji tradition outside of Hawaiʻi and around the world.

To learn more about how to join Chozen-ji and participate in Zen training, please visit our Training page.

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Chozen-ji History

Chozen-ji was founded by Omori Sogen and Tenshin Tanouye, both renowned Zen masters, swordsmen and calligraphers. Omori Sogen is a direct Dharma Successor in the Tenryu-ji Line of Rinzai Zen and a successor of Yamaoka Tesshu's Taishi School of Calligraphy and of the Jikishinkage School of Fencing.

Tanouye Roshi was a kamaʻaina – born of the land of Hawaiʻi – and a public school teacher with a specialty in music who turned his school room into a martial arts dojo every afternoon. He was also a determined student of the martial arts and earned the 6th or 7th degree in seven different arts including Judo, Kendo, Karate, Iaido and Jojitsu.

With this background, Tanouye Roshi developed an approach to Zen that uses the breath and physical training to cultivate Ki’ai—the intangible yet ever-present spirit/vibration of every object, person or interaction. Using the martial and fine arts, he developed an accessible method that emphasized the interruption of habits and attachments. In doing so, he gave practical form to Omori Roshi’s proclamation in the Chozen-ji Canon:

“Zen without the accompanying physical experience is nothing but empty discussion. Martial ways without realizing the "Mind" is nothing but beastly behavior.”

A Manawa , A Spiritual Mountain in Hawai'i

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Chozen-ji is located deep in Honolulu’s Kalihi Valley. The cultural and spiritual practices of Hawaiʻi provide the backdrop for our unique approach to Zen training.

On her first visit, Hawaiian spiritual teacher and activist Pilahi Paki recognized Chozen-ji as a Manawa, one of four spiritual energy “mountains” of Hawai‘i thought to be lost in modernity. True to its name (meaning “Temple of Zen transcending Zen”), Chozen-ji seeks to go beyond the artificial separations between us. Nana Veary, another renowned Hawaiian spiritual teacher pictured left with Tanouye Roshi, said she felt like she came home when she found Chozen-ji and that Tanouye Roshi was a Zen Master who taught and embodied the spirit of Aloha.

 

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