Our Teacher
Meido Moore Roshi (1968) is the founding shike (training master or abbot) of
Korinji, and guiding teacher of the Korinji Rinzai Zen Community. He is author
of The Rinzai Zen Way: A Guide to Practice and Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden
Awakening and Embodied Realization (both from Shambhala Publications).
Meido Roshi began Zen practice in 1988 after completing a religious studies degree at Rutgers University and participating in the Antioch Buddhist Studies program in Bodh Gaya, India. He went on to train under three Rinzai masters in Omori Sogen Roshi's line: the late Tenzan Toyoda Rokoji (dharma heir of Tenshin Tanouye Roshi), in whose training hall he resided for seven years while also enduring a severe training in traditional martial arts over a decade; Dogen Hosokawa Roshi (Omori Roshi’s dharma heir), under whom he trained for fifteen years; and So'zan Miller Roshi (Hosokawa Roshi's dharma heir), under whom he trained for three years and completed the koan curriculum of this lineage. He founded The Korinji Foundation in 2005. In 2008 he received inka shomei or "mind seal" — recognition as an 86th-generation Zen lineage holder — and was empowered to transmit the full range of Rinzai Zen practices. In 2013 Meido Roshi was installed as the first abbot of Korinji monastery. He continues today to learn from the living teachers whose lineage he carries.
Aside from Zen, Meido Roshi has ordained in several other Japanese Buddhist schools. He has worked to establish Shugendo practice places within natural areas in North America. For many years he was a professional martial art teacher: he has studied Japanese swordsmanship and jujutsu, and is certified as a shihan (master-level teacher) by the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo. He studies Chado (tea ceremony), calligraphy, ceramics, and is a trained bladesmith.
Based in Wisconsin, USA at Korinji, Meido Roshi travels widely to teach and conduct retreats around the world.