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Shōhaku Okumura Roshi, founding teacher of Sanshin Zen Community, continues to share the wisdom of a lifetime of zazen and dharma study with practitioners at Sanshin and beyond, here in the form of a virtual ten-day dharma study intensive.
What is the dharma study intensive?
Continuing the practice legacy
The dharma study intensive is the successor to Okumura Roshi’s popular and beloved genzo-e retreats, which were carried out a few times a year in-person at Sanshin and other dharma centers between 2002 and 2019, and online between 2020 and 2023. Since stepping down from day to day temple leadership in the summer of 2023, the twice-yearly virtual dharma study intensive has become Okumura Roshi's main live teaching activity. Because it is helpful to understand the practice container you are stepping into, it should be noted that this event is oriented differently than the previously-held genzo-e.
While the genzo-e included scheduled periods of zazen in addition to the twice-daily lectures, all within a concentrated communal retreat structure, the dharma study intensive is specifically focused on the study aspect of our four primary areas of practice (zazen, work, study, and ritual). For this event, our shared activity consists simply of one online lecture and Q & A with Okumura Roshi each morning for ten days.
This shift provides a less strenuous schedule for Okumura Roshi, and also a more loosely structured practice container for participants. Registrants are thus encouraged to take this as an opportunity to consider for themselves how best to integrate lecture attendance with their own schedule of personal study, zazen, and any ongoing daily activities and responsibilities.
You are welcome to participate via Zoom in the regular practice schedule being carried out here at Sanshinji before most of the lectures, as your own schedule and time zone allow (see schedule on the right side of this page).
Note also that, unlike genzo-e, these lectures may explore other Soto Zen texts and topics in addition to Dogen's Shobogenzo, all in support of deepening our understanding and practice of zazen and its functioning in our daily lives.
"When I began genzo-e, I thought it was dangerous to sit as much as we do at Sanshinji without understanding the deep meaning of zazen practice taught by Dogen Zenji. For me, zazen is the main thing; studying Dogen Zenji's teachings supports intensive zazen practice. Intellectual understanding only without sitting is not so meaningful."
-- Okumura Roshi
While the genzo-e included scheduled periods of zazen in addition to the twice-daily lectures, all within a concentrated communal retreat structure, the dharma study intensive is specifically focused on the study aspect of our four primary areas of practice (zazen, work, study, and ritual). For this event, our shared activity consists simply of one online lecture and Q & A with Okumura Roshi each morning for ten days.
This shift provides a less strenuous schedule for Okumura Roshi, and also a more loosely structured practice container for participants. Registrants are thus encouraged to take this as an opportunity to consider for themselves how best to integrate lecture attendance with their own schedule of personal study, zazen, and any ongoing daily activities and responsibilities.
You are welcome to participate via Zoom in the regular practice schedule being carried out here at Sanshinji before most of the lectures, as your own schedule and time zone allow (see schedule on the right side of this page).
Note also that, unlike genzo-e, these lectures may explore other Soto Zen texts and topics in addition to Dogen's Shobogenzo, all in support of deepening our understanding and practice of zazen and its functioning in our daily lives.
"When I began genzo-e, I thought it was dangerous to sit as much as we do at Sanshinji without understanding the deep meaning of zazen practice taught by Dogen Zenji. For me, zazen is the main thing; studying Dogen Zenji's teachings supports intensive zazen practice. Intellectual understanding only without sitting is not so meaningful."
-- Okumura Roshi
Virtual dharma study intensive: Ejo's Komyozo-Zanmai
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Koun Ejo (1198 - 1282) was the most important of Dogen Zenji's direct disciples, serving as his close attendant, principle dharma heir, and the second abbot of Eiheiji following Dogen's death. He transcribed and compiled many of Dogen's writings and discourses, but Komyozo-Zanmai is the only extant original writing attributed to Ejo. In it, Dogen's shikantaza (our practice of zazen) is discussed as the samadhi of the radiant light treasury.
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The schedule consists of one lecture and Q & A period each morning from 10 - noon ET for ten days, online via Zoom with Okumura Roshi (see timing at right). Registration is at the bottom of this page.
Logistics and further information
We are not able to accommodate visiting practitioners in-person for these lectures. A small group of people directly involved in carrying out the event will be present in the zendo. Registration is for virtual participation only.
About a week before the first lecture, those who have registered will receive a link to the Resource Page containing Zoom links and other information. The materials needed for this event, including Okumura Roshi's translation of the text and the opening and closing chants, will be available for download from that page.
Our intention is to make each lecture recording available to participants before the next day's lecture begins. Recordings will be posted to the Resource Page as they become available, and will remain available to participants for a period of one month after the conclusion of the dharma study intensive.
If you have any further questions after thoroughly reading the information on this page, please feel free to contact us.
About a week before the first lecture, those who have registered will receive a link to the Resource Page containing Zoom links and other information. The materials needed for this event, including Okumura Roshi's translation of the text and the opening and closing chants, will be available for download from that page.
Our intention is to make each lecture recording available to participants before the next day's lecture begins. Recordings will be posted to the Resource Page as they become available, and will remain available to participants for a period of one month after the conclusion of the dharma study intensive.
If you have any further questions after thoroughly reading the information on this page, please feel free to contact us.
computer skills checklist
In order to participate successfully, you will need to be able to do the following:
- Sign into your Zoom account and join a meeting
- Bookmark and return to a web page
- Download and print or retrieve documents
- Mute your computer's microphone
- Adjust the volume of your computer speaker or headset
Daily Schedule: May 1 - 10
Times are US Eastern Time.
Okumura Roshi will give one lecture each morning (ten lectures total), followed by a question and answer session:
10:00 AM* Lecture
11:30 Question & Answer
12:00 PM Bow out
*Note that on Sunday, May 4th, the lecture will begin ten minutes later, at 10:10 AM, to accommodate regular Sunday practice at Sanshinji.
Okumura Roshi will give one lecture each morning (ten lectures total), followed by a question and answer session:
10:00 AM* Lecture
11:30 Question & Answer
12:00 PM Bow out
*Note that on Sunday, May 4th, the lecture will begin ten minutes later, at 10:10 AM, to accommodate regular Sunday practice at Sanshinji.
You are also welcome to join via Zoom in the regular practice schedule being carried out here at Sanshinji before most of the lectures:
Weekday mornings (May 1 - 2 & 5 - 9):
6:10 am Zazen
7:00 am Kinhin
7:10 am Zazen
8:00 am Robe chant
8:05 am Service
8:30 am Reading from Shobogenzo Zuimonki, announcements, soji (cleanup)
8:45 am Bow out
Saturday, May 3 & 10: no communal practice
Sunday, May 4:
9:10 am Zazen
Weekday mornings (May 1 - 2 & 5 - 9):
6:10 am Zazen
7:00 am Kinhin
7:10 am Zazen
8:00 am Robe chant
8:05 am Service
8:30 am Reading from Shobogenzo Zuimonki, announcements, soji (cleanup)
8:45 am Bow out
Saturday, May 3 & 10: no communal practice
Sunday, May 4:
9:10 am Zazen
Things to consider before you register
The lectures assume that participants have the following:
The first one or two lectures are often entirely devoted to background and context for the fascicle or topic under consideration. If you are joining the intensive somewhere in the middle, be aware that you will be without this groundwork and may have trouble picking up the thread of the presentations.
Although we do our best to provide high quality audio, Okumura Roshi speaks somewhat softly and with an accent, and you will be listening over Zoom. If you're concerned about your ability to follow his lectures, you may wish to watch some of his Sunday talks, available on our YouTube channel, before deciding to register. Using headphones may make it easier to listen and understand.
There will be basic help available by chat & email if you have technical issues related to participating in the online segments. Please make sure you have the basic computer skills listed above before the event begins. Our ability to solve technical difficulties on your end is limited.
If you have any questions after thoroughly reading the information on this page, please feel free to contact us.
- An established zazen practice
- An understanding of basic Buddhist teachings
- The computer skills outlined in the "Computer Skills Checklist" above
The first one or two lectures are often entirely devoted to background and context for the fascicle or topic under consideration. If you are joining the intensive somewhere in the middle, be aware that you will be without this groundwork and may have trouble picking up the thread of the presentations.
Although we do our best to provide high quality audio, Okumura Roshi speaks somewhat softly and with an accent, and you will be listening over Zoom. If you're concerned about your ability to follow his lectures, you may wish to watch some of his Sunday talks, available on our YouTube channel, before deciding to register. Using headphones may make it easier to listen and understand.
There will be basic help available by chat & email if you have technical issues related to participating in the online segments. Please make sure you have the basic computer skills listed above before the event begins. Our ability to solve technical difficulties on your end is limited.
If you have any questions after thoroughly reading the information on this page, please feel free to contact us.
Registration and payment
Note that there are two designated payment amount options associated with your registration: regular ($250) and sponsor ($300).
For several years now, sponsor payments have helped our temple to maintain financial sustainability while welcoming practitioners unable to pay full registration fees. Thank you for your participation in this ongoing sangha effort.
If the regular payment amount listed below is a barrier to your participation, you are invited to discern an amount that is workable for your financial circumstances and use the reduced fee registration button to offer what you can. Thank you for your practice and contribution.
For several years now, sponsor payments have helped our temple to maintain financial sustainability while welcoming practitioners unable to pay full registration fees. Thank you for your participation in this ongoing sangha effort.
If the regular payment amount listed below is a barrier to your participation, you are invited to discern an amount that is workable for your financial circumstances and use the reduced fee registration button to offer what you can. Thank you for your practice and contribution.