Shohaku Okumura, Roshi

via Zoom, Zen Mountain Monastery, Sunday 07/18/21

Following a weekend retreat offered to the Mountains and Rivers Order sangha, renowned author and Dogen scholar Shohaku Okumura delivered this Sunday dharma discourse. He begins by talking about Opening the Hand of Thought, a beloved book by his late teacher Kosho Uchiyama, which Okumura Roshi translated into English. One story recounted in that book has now been made into a children’s book called Squabbling Squashes. (Both are available from Wisdom Publications.)

Shohaku Okumura brings to us the unique perspective of the practitioner-scholar.  Born in Osaka, Japan, he studied Zen Buddhism and was ordained by Uchiyama Roshi in 1970. Having taught in the west now for 30 years, he is the founder and guiding teacher of Sanshin Zen Community, an international Buddhist sangha, based in Bloomington, Indiana. His writing and translations include Living by Vow, Realizing Genjokoan, Dogen’s Extensive Record, and many others.

You can find out more about his work and extensive translations and commentary at SANSHINJI.org and the Dogen Institute.