Winter 2025 Newsletter: Letter from the Abbot
50 Years of Building at Chozen-ji
by Michael Kangen Roshi
Building the Budo Dojo in 1976.
50 years ago this March, Chozen-ji moved into the 2.5 acres of land in Kalihi Valley that we still call home to this day. Tanouye Roshi had inspired some of the original members to take personal risk and put their houses up as collateral to secure the loan for the land. This deep commitment commenced an intensive period of building–of both the physical structures and the community of Chozen-ji.
Erecting the Bell Tower in 1982.
More recently, in 2021, a crew from the Dojo built the awning covering the Budo Dojo steps. Just a couple months ago, another crew reroofed Chozen-ji, saving the dojo money and getting a new generation involved in building and maintaining the facilities here. This is not only nice support for the dojo but is actually very good Zen training, challenging crews to work as a team, develop their intuition, and maintain their balance high on the roof. It also gets a new generation invested in caring for the buildings where they train.
While many of the original buildings from 50 years are doing well (Budo Dojo/kitchen, Kyudo Dojo, Chozen-ji), several of the less sturdy ones will need to be replaced in the upcoming years. With the residences finished across the street, we have clearly entered another period of building at Chozen-ji.
Constructing the awning over the Budo Dojo steps in 2021.
These new buildings are the most obvious physical manifestation of this new era, yet we are also in a period of building the community and the next generation of teachers. Over the last several decades, we have benefited from teachers like Dick Teshima Sensei in Kendo, Takashi Nakazato Sensei in ceramics, Yumiko Sayama Sensei in Chado, and Michele Aboro in boxing, all of them true masters in their arts.
Re-roofing Chozen-ji in 2025.
The work now becomes for students to train deeply enough to become teachers themselves by mastering the martial and fine arts and, more importantly, Chozen-ji’s unique approach to Zen training. This progression is realized on long timelines and requires relentless commitment from teachers and students alike. These commitments are what have kept our lineage alive through the millennia and allow us to continue to have an impact on the world.
The words "succession" and "success" both come from the same latin root succedere, meaning "to come after". Our success is tied up in how well we all manage this “coming after”. For the new generation of leadership, it is important to recognize the sacrifice and commitment that came before, and which provided the training method and the world class training facility we have at Chozen-ji. For the older generation, the younger folks need support and guidance as they step into these roles.
As we continue to refine and build the facilities of Chozen-ji, we must always remember that these buildings are just the means for the real training. Zen training can happen in a band room, a small rented house, an apartment, a rustic cabin, or a beautiful Dojo in Kalihi Valley. For those of us here, we are truly lucky to get to train in the masterpiece that Tanouye Roshi crafted, and our intensity of training should always strive to meet that level of mastery.
As we embark on a new period of building—the training community, the leadership, and the physical buildings—let us build with that same spirit. Thank you all for your continuing support and dedication as we enter this Year of the Horse. Let’s build something together that will be here for another 50 years and beyond.