Our 50th anniversary is a fitting moment to reaffirm the basics of shugyo at Chozen-ji. The idea of Chozen-ji started in 1970 when Tanouye Rotaishi asked Omori Rotaishi for five years of his life to bring shugyo to the West. In 1972, they established Chozen-ji.
Read MoreWe just finished the summer sesshin last week. 19 people trained, many of them young and local. It was great to see that. Twice as I walked over to the Dojo for the evening inspection of the sitting, there was a full rainbow over Chozen-ji. “Wondrous,” I thought.
Read MoreFour years ago there was one person signed up to do the summer sesshin. The most recent sesshin had 19 participants. This is a great indicator of the change that has happened over the last four years.
Read More“To receive and let flow away.” —Tanouye Tenshin Rotaishi
This phrase is found in Master Takuan Soho’s letters to swordmaster Yagyu Munenori on the Immovable Mind in fencing. It refers to a technique in which the opponent’s attack is received and returned against him.
For example, the opponent cuts for your head. Receiving the strike with your sword, you let its momentum initiate your cut to his body. Tanouye Rotaishi used to say, “Here’s the secret to life.” Receive and let flow away.
Read More“The Mysterious Wonder of the Universal Mind.” Omori Sogen Rotaishi wrote these characters on the sign that hangs above the altar in the Budo Dojo at Chozen-ji. To me they describe how Chozen-ji has come to enjoy a second spring.
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