Madison Rinzai Zen - Ryugenji 龍源寺

11/03/2025

10/28/2025

Kogetsu Enshū-ryū Zen Sadō (壺月遠州流禅茶道), "Kogetsu Enshū School of Zen Tea Ceremony", is one of the schools of Japanese tea ceremony.

10/18/2025

Just released on Korinji's Patreon: a lecture from our late teacher Toyoda Rokoji, "ON KI."

Patreon link in bio!

Meido Roshi comments regarding this one:

There are many notes and lectures from my late teacher Toyoda Sensei, who was both a Zen and Aikido master. Some of these have been published, most not. I was his scribe, editor, and in some cases ghost writer (final drafts approved by him, of course) for much of the material that survives. So I'll try to release some of it periodically.

Here is one article that was previously released. Most people seem to enjoy it, while others get angry reading it. Though originally intended for martial art students, it is relevant and useful reading for Zen practitioners as well.

As an aside to this one: I observed on a few occasions students ask Sensei what "ki" is, and he would answer by knocking on the wall or table, pointing to his fist, etc. On one occasion a person asked if Sensei could throw him using ki energy. He replied, pointing to his fist, "Come here, you can feel ki."

10/17/2025

10/17/2025

Today the monastery residents received instruction in the manners of both receiving and administering blows from the keisaku.

The function of the keisaku (in Soto Zen called "kyosaku") is much deeper than simply providing a stimulus to dispel fatigue or loosen tense muscles. More profoundly, it is a method of direct pointing that - when correctly performed - gives benefit to everyone within earshot.

There is important instruction regarding use of the body, breath, and mind connected to this tool. We would like this information to be more widely taught, since the keisaku's function is often misunderstood. In the West it is even criticized in strange ways as if it were some kind of corporal punishment. But in fact, it is a deeply compassionate, skillful means for supporting practitioners.

10/14/2025

Just dropped on Korinji's Patreon, our constantly growing online library of Rinzai Zen instructional videos, dharma talks, and more to support your home practice. Link in first comment:

"The Boundless Body, Sitting on the Universe, and Other Things to Make You Fearless"

It is common in Buddhist teaching to focus on the ways in which desire, attachment, and habit bind us. But regarding the actual functioning of wisdom, and the kind of life that can emerge from our path of training, it may be more useful for modern people to view things from the standpoint of cutting through fear rather than desire.

Even a cursory intellectual examination of our physical form reveals that it is, in fact, boundless, and that "the entire universe is the true human body." But when the experiential knowledge we call awakening (kensho/satori) arises, and we begin to see through the root attachment of "I" and "me," how much more our inconceivable, boundless nature is revealed. From this, a true courage dawns.

To live and die free from fear, resting in the confidence of what we genuinely are - and what we are not! - is the genuine expression of Zen wisdom. Meido Roshi here discusses these points. Recorded at the October 2025 sesshin near Berlin, with German translation.

Contributions to the Patreon keep the lights on at our monastery...we are grateful!

10/13/2025

10/07/2025

Wisconsin harvest moon.