Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo ji Zen Temple

Written by Saira Yusuf

Introduction

The Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo ji Zen Temple, also referred to as the Chobo-ji Temple, is located in Seattle, Washington. This location is known as the “home temple” to many Zendos, or meditation halls, ranging from California to Germany. “Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo ji” translates to “The Listening to the Dharma Zen Temple on Great Plum Mountain,” and was given this name by its founder, Zen Master Genki Takabayashi on October 1, 1984. The main mission of the temple is to bring the peace and compassion of the Zen practice not only throughout the community but to the outside world as well.

History of the Temple

Before the founding of this temple, Zen Master Genki Takabayashi lived a long life studying Zen teaching. He entered the monastery at 11 years old, and from there, he trained for over 20 years at the Daitoku-ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan, where he studied integral Rinzai teachings that equipped him for becoming a Zen Master. He later directed a temple located in Kamakura, Japan, before he was invited by the Seattle Zen Center to become a Zen teacher in 1977. It was after this when Chobo-ji was founded, and under his leadership, he ordained three priests and led the Sangha until 1997, when he retired with his wife in Montana. He passed on February 24th, 2013, and with his retirement and passing, the leadership role turned to current abbot Kokan (古観) Genjo (玄成 ) Marinello.

Genjo began his training in 1975 practicing under Thích Thiên-An, a popular Vietnamese Buddhist monk. He was soon ordained as an Unsui (training priest) in 1980, and following this, he trained in Japan under Joshu Sasaki. He was formally installed as Abbot on January 10, 1999, and continues to lead the temple to this day. While also practicing as Abbot, he is a psychotherapist in private practice, a volunteer pastor at the Washington State Department of Corrections, and the speaker on a podcast created by the temple called “Chobo-ji Zen Podcast,” where Genjo discusses differing subjects ranging from guided meditations to Koan interpretations, such as an episode titling “Does a Dog Have Buddha Nature?” Many of his talks have been published in multiple Dharma-related journals, while his commentary on Koan practice has been translated into multiple languages across the world.

While these teachers have been highly regarded by many, it is important to recognize that they have also been riddled with controversy. It has been reported that Genki would repeatedly make passes at female students, even going as far as having both consensual and non-consensual sexual relationships with those students. Genjo has also been charged with such acts, along with many other Zen Masters and Teachers that both taught and worked with both Genki and Genjo. In response to these charges, Chobo-ji has stated:

“Genjo is very aware of the problems associated with three of his core teachers….concerning their misuse of power to exploit and take advantage of students under his care. He and the Chobo-ji sangha repudiate and condemn the inappropriate liberties these men have taken with their students.”

(https://choboji.org/history/)

It is important to mention these facts when analyzing this temple and other temples associated with these teachers, as their impacts can change communities, funding, and other integral factors that are important regarding the Chobo-ji temple. Genjo still operates as the Abbot of the temple, and while the current community has demonstrated regard for him, there was still a loss in members due to his and other teachers’ actions. After these events, however, the temple became more dedicated to inclusion and the overall beliefs of Zen practice, and have therefore attempted the shift the narrative regarding their temple.

Rinzai Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism was first founded in the 6th Century CE by Bodhidharma, who was an Indian monk who traveled to China to teach meditation. Learning from this teaching, Linji Yixuan created Linji Buddhism in 9th century China which is still known as Linji Buddhism. It was later brought to Japan in 1191 by the priest Eisai and was immediately popularized throughout due to the sect’s beliefs surrounding the abruptness of enlightenment. Following a period of decline, the sect was reformed and popularized in the 18th century by Master Hakuin Ekaku Zenji, who formalized the Koan teaching system that is used by Zen teachers. This form of Buddhism became known as Rinzai Zen Buddhism, where the practices can be characterized by three ideas: “Katsu,” which is known to be “blows” or “jolts” that are delivered from the Master to the Disciple, “Mondo” or question and answer sessions, and meditation based on “Koan” or paradoxical statements posed by the Master to the Disciple. “Koan” are fundamental practices within Zen teaching, as they create non-rational parables that aid in understanding awareness.

Chobo-ji utilizes these ideas throughout their practices to challenge practitioners’ egos, therefore releasing them from those egos to find peace and become better people. As claimed by the temple:

“Rinzai Zen’s stream of Buddhism uses a set hierarchy and rigorous discipline consisting of fixed rituals, conventions and formal procedures. Hierarchy….is a practice tool that is designed to irritate and poke at our ego identities.”

(https://choboji.org/rinzai-zen-practice-notes/)

The core of Zen training, however, is “zazen” or seated meditation. In practicing this meditation, one can achieve the inner peace that they will then be allowed to grant to those around them throughout the world. An example of these fixed rituals include following the Zendo, or Meditation Hall, guidelines, which include but are not limited to:

• Arriving early, wearing discrete and loose clothing and no watches
• There are specific ways to bow and face when entering, leaving, etc.

As the temple states:

“Respect for zendo atmosphere means giving your all to this purpose; this is not an easy task; therefore, all our activities strive to be simple, clear, and quiet.”

(https://choboji.org/guidelines/)

Temple’s Sangha (Community)

According to the Temple’s website, they claim:

“We are a diverse community doing deep spiritual inquiry through silent meditation and caring action for the benefit of all beings, great and small, animate, and inanimate.”

(https://choboji.org/)

The temple has worked to make its community as inclusive as possible, and in doing so, they have created a rich and diverse group of practitioners ranging in differing interests and beliefs. The temple has claimed to be “open to anyone, and all are welcomed with an open heart,” and has therefore implemented resources to allow those who come from other religions to practice as well. The community also focuses on many outreach programs that involve civil service, including but not limited to providing meals to the homeless, prison sangha support, and social justice advocacy throughout not only Seattle but all of Washington state.

Gaining membership consists of filling out an application and paying monthly dues to the Temple. These memberships can move among ranks, but it must be stated that these ranks are used to support the temple, not to enforce social scales. In accordance with Buddhist tradition, no attachments should be formed with these rankings. Being a member also comes with benefits, including discounts on retreats, eligibility to participate in certain pieces of training, voting rights, and access to the library within the temple.

Along with the community-run podcast, the temple also writes and provides two newsletters that are provided to both members and non-members alike. The “Temple Happenings” is a weekly newsletter that provides important information regarding the community, including schedule changes, important events, and other integral messages. The “Plum Mountain News” is a quarterly newsletter that includes question-answer sections for those who have posed questions to the general body, along with a letter to the community written by Abbot Genjo Marinello regarding general concerns or announcements.

Funding is usually provided through membership dues provided by members of the temple, and donations that are given from both members of the community and outside sources. Those who are non-members are encouraged to donate $5 when they do attend meditation or other services, or any amount of money that they feel comfortable giving. The temple has no outside support from national or international organizations, so these funds are the sole financial contributors to the temple and its community.

Services and Events

An abundance of services and events are provided throughout the temple that allows practitioners opportunities that range from meditations to retreats. “Daily Zazen,” or seated meditations, are offered every day for one hour, along with “Introduction to Zazen” courses offered on Tuesdays for those who are interested in learning how to properly meditate in the Rinzai Zen Practice. “Sunday Dharma Talk and Dialogue” is offered on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month for those who have questions regarding teachings and other important issues.

Along with these services, events such as retreats are held to help practitioners with varying interests. These retreats include BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) sitting groups, Sesshins (quarterly week-long retreats), Zazenkai (half-day retreats with Dharma Talks), and Summer and Winter Odayaka Sessions (three-day Zen retreats). An integral workshop that the temple offers is “Non-Violent Communication” study groups, where members are taught ways that they can be better communicators and learn to better express themselves through peaceful and kind words. These retreats and events are offered throughout the year and are open for any who are interested. New and inexperienced members are encouraged to participate, as they not only learn about this sect of Buddhism but are also given opportunities and services to utilize within their daily lives.

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