See our class schedule for weekly sittings and our upcoming events page for details on Zen Stones, a monthly session on zen and meditation led by Tom Maney sensei.

See our Zen Training for more information on our weekly sit let by Esteban Martinez sensei.

Zazen (sitting meditation) is the basic practice of Zen as it provides the easiest conditions in which to experience a heightened state of awareness. Zazen cultivates sensitivity to subtle bodily sensations and connections, as well as to the flow of energy. To sit zazen well, one must harmonize the mind, body, and breathing. Only when the three are realized as one will it be possible to succeed in stabilizing and tranquilizing the body and mind at the same time. These three things are inseparable from each other.

The Zen training program followed at Zenshinkan Dojo is taken from the training taught at Daihonzan Chozen-ji temple. Chozen-ji is a Rinzai Zen temple in Hawaii, where the martial arts and cultural arts are integrated with traditional Zen training. Here, entering Zen through the body is emphasized. The student must refine breath, posture, and awareness to cultivate Samadhi, a state of complete concentration and relaxation. In Samadhi a person transcends dualism, lives fully moment by moment, and is most effective and creative. When one's body works according to natural principles, a person transcends himself as a subject working upon an object and demonstrates Zen in activity. (taken from Chozen-ji Introductory brochure)

Our training follows the principle of "Zen, Ken, Sho": Zen-zazen training for the mind, Ken-martial art training for the body, and Sho-cultural art training for the spirit. The same principles and practices are directly related to each and can be unified into our training on or off the mat, and taken into the day-to-day interactions of our lives.

“Zen is to transcend life and death...all dualism”

- Omori Sogen Rotaishi,
Founding Archbishop, Daihozan Chozen-ji