Summer 2025 Newsletter: Zen & Politics 4.0
by Bill Kaneko
In May 2025, thirteen students gathered at Chozen-ji as part of the fourth cohort of Zen & Politics: The Way of Public Leadership (Z&P). Initially conceptualized and launched in 2019, Z&P is a six-week intensive training which applies the principles of Zen to politics, public service and community action. On its face, Zen and politics is an oxymoron. What has Zen have to do with politics and community engagement?
During the six-week training, the cohort stayed over for two weekends at the Dojo—waking up at 5:30 am for zazen, then engaging in kendo, karate, hojo, calligraphy and more zazen. Sayama Roshi greeted the cohort with a spiritual challenge to use Zen training to make Hawaii a better place.
Every Thursday evening after zazen, the members of the cohort had the opportunity to “talk story” with Hawaii’s political and business leaders. Former Governor John Waihee, American Savings Bank CEO Ann Teranishi, Tradewind Group Chair Colbert Matsumoto, and Native Hawaiian advocates Bumpy Kanahele and Brandon Makaawaawa shared their perspectives about leadership, community action, and personal responsibility and commitment.
Intermediate Court of Appeals Chief Judge Karen Nakasone and Puuhonua O Waianae leader James Pakele shared their personal experiences on training at the Dojo. Kangen Roshi also provided the cohort with an introduction to Sun Tsu’s Art of War.
At the end of the six-week training, each student met with Z&P organizers Kangen Roshi, Cristina Moon, Bill Kaneko, Burt Lum, Nalani Kaku, and Dwight Matsuo for a one-on-one session. They posed the fundamental question, "What did you learn?"
While the responses varied, each cohort answered with great sincerity and personal honesty. Some in tears, participants expressed learnings and insights that linked the principles of Zen with their daily activities, professional challenges, and personal circumstances:
Train hard;
Address problems directly and with clarity; and
Engage in actions that are in accord with the “Tao”.
Without “teaching” leadership, the experiential activities of Z&P unleashed the power of Zen training and self development—challenging students to take an active role in public service and community action. One of the participants remarked, “Not even an MBA course at Harvard can provide you with the leadership insights of Z&P. I am grateful for the opportunity to train at Chozen-ji.”
Z&P 4.0 produced 13 young leaders who view the world with greater clarity, intention and sincerity. They are highly motivated and committed to make Hawaii and the world a better place.
Chozen-ji will be recruiting for Zen & Politics 5.0 in January 2026, with training to begin in May 2026.