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Korinji Rinzai Zen Monastery Wisconsin USA


Modern World

Ancient Path,

Korinji Rinzai Zen Monastery Koan Sanzen
Omori Sogen Roshi Enso Korinji

Forge Your Life
A Rinzai Zen Training Monastery in the Heartland of North America
A Worldwide Community of Practice

KORINJI is a Rinzai Zen training monastery, or sodo, in rural Wisconsin, USA.

Founded in 2013, it serves as the headquarters of

RINZAI ZEN INTERNATIONAL

our worldwide sangha of affiliated practice groups.

 

Rooted in traditional Rinzai Zen monastic practice, our approach is Zen-Ken-Sho: a unified training of Zen, martial arts, and fine arts inherited from the great master Omori Sogen Roshi.

In addition, Korinji serves as a non-sectarian temple for the practice of other Japanese Buddhist traditions

 

People of all faiths and backgrounds are welcome to learn with us through local practice groups, online resources, retreats,

or, for qualified applicants, residential monastic training.

Our Practices

Korinji preserves and transmits several traditional Japanese Buddhist and cultural disciplines. These practices are not presented as separate hobbies or interests, but as mutually supporting forms of training: body, breath, and mind cultivated together witin the unity of meditative absorption and insight.

 

Our work: planting these dynamic practices of self-transformation deeply in

the West, and spreading them out to the world.

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Rinzai Zen 
Awakening to Your True Nature

Rinzai Zen is among the most direct of Buddhist practice paths. Its basis is experiential awakening to intrinsic wisdom, called kenshō, “seeing one’s true nature.” Through continued training, all activities of life are brought into the unity of this wisdom and meditative absorption.

Meido Moore Roshi battoho iaido budo Korinji

Budo - Martial Arts
The Sword That Gives Life

Martial arts at Korinji are not practiced as sport or self-expression, but as disciplines of body, breath, energy, fearlessness, and direct action.

Kogetsu Enshu-ryu Sado tea ceremony at Korinji

Sado - Tea Ceremony
Chazen Ichimi: "Zen and Tea are of One Taste"

Korinji serves as a center for Sado, the Way of Tea. We study the Kogetsu Enshu School of Zen Tea Ceremony under the guidance of its Headmaster.

Bonji calligraphy at Korinji

Shittan & Shabutsu - Sacred Arts
Becoming Buddha with Pen and Brush

Shittan is the practice of writing Siddham, the sacred script used for mantric Sanskrit syllables. Shabutsu is the devotional drawing of buddhas, bodhisattvas, and deities.

Hojo Kata at Korinji

Hojo Kata
Cut Through the Center of Your Being

The Hojo are four sword forms from the Jikishinkage school. Integrated with Zen, their purpose is "To cut all habits acquired since the day you were born and return to your original nature." 

Goma Shingon Shugendo fire ritual at Korinji

Mikkyo
Esoteric Buddhist Practice

Mikkyo, “secret teaching,” refers to Japanese esoteric Buddhist traditions (Vajrayana or Mantrayana) preserved especially in Shingon, Tendai, and Shugendo lineages.

Korinji Shugendo

Shugendo
The Path of the Yamabushi

Shugendo is a 1500-year-old tradition combining esoteric Buddhist practice, Shinto awareness of the sacredness of nature, Daoist teachings, and outdoor asceticism such as mountain pilgrimage.

Join Us

Omori Sogen Roshi Enso Korinji
Korinji sesshin Zen retreats

Retreats, Classes & Events
At Korinji and Internationally

Intensive Zen meditation retreats (sesshin) led by Meido Moore Roshi are offered 6 times a year at Korinji, and twice annually in Europe. Many other retreats, seminars, and classes are offered worldwide, including our beginner's Zen Life Retreat, Intro to Zen Days (an open house where you can learn meditation), Shugendo training, ceremonies, and more.​​

Online
Become a Member and Access Resources To Support Your Home Meditation Practice

Members of Rinzai Zen International have access to an online library of instructional videos, dharma talks, forums, Zoom meetings, and other resources supporting home practice.

​

Read here about the full range of our online resources.

Korinji main gate
Korinji residential monastic practice

Residency &
Ordination
Living and Training Opportunities at Korinji Monastery

Residency at Korinji is open to a small number of qualified applicants prepared to devote themselves completely to intensive Buddhist training. Both lay and ordained trainees, as well as those wishing to train for ordination, may apply.

Meditation Groups
Find (or Start) One Near You

Meditation groups affiliated with Korinji through Rinzai Zen International are active in the Americas and Europe. New groups can arise wherever interested beginners organize to practice together.​

Korinji meditation groups
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