Tesshu Zenkai offers a place to train for working people who live busy lives in the city.
Kohoin (高歩院) is a temple of the Tenryūji school of Rinzai Zen Buddhism located in Nakano-ku, Tokyo, and was built in 1943 on the site of the former residence of Tesshu Yamaoka. The temple's name "Koho" is derived from Tesshu Yamaoka's real name, Takayuki.
Tesshu Yamaoka, who was active from the end of the Edo period to the Meiji era, met with Takamori Saigo, Kaishu Katsu, and others here to discuss the future of the country.
In 1942, a person from Osaka purchased the land and, after learning of its historical value, donated a portion of it to Master Sei Seisetsu Seki, who was then the abbot of the Tenryuji School. This led to the construction of Kohoin Temple as a "place for training to pacify the nation," and it was completed on May 8, 1943.
The Tesshu Zen Association was founded in 1947 by the second abbot, Sogen Omori Roshi, with the strong belief that the teachings of Tesshu Yamaoka, the founder of the association, and the Zen spirit of Seitoshi Seki, the founder, would be enough to create a place where people could find peace of mind, considering the devastation caused by air raids and postwar confusion.
This dojo is a place for ordinary members of society to "look at themselves". It is a Zen training center for the practice of iaji zazen, which is similar to a professional monastery, and is based on the koan method of entering zazen meditation. Zen practice is meaningful only when it is practiced in society. Zen practice does not fall into the realm of ideology, but rather, through Zen calligraphy, Zen sword, and Zen tea, the boundaries are cultivated.
Title: Work by Michi Kobo Soenki, Disability Welfare Service Office