The two resident monks of Rinzai-ji have both participated in Ango within the traditional setting of a Japanese monastery and from Saturday, March 1 to Tuesday, April 8, will take on the challenge of completing a 38 day Ango here at Rinzai-ji. It will not be as long as a traditional training term, but it will involve intensive sittings and several sesshins. We realize that it may be difficult for community members to participate in the same way as our resident monks but we encourage you all to commit to a schedule that works for you and to sit and practice with them (whether in person or online) as much as possible. Doing such a training period within the busyness of a modern city provides each of us with an opportunity to reach deep within ourselves and see what it is that does not move even when the winds blow from all directions.

Rinzai-ji’s resident monks are MyōrenYasukawa and SōgenYamamoto.

Myoren Yasukawa, originally from Tokyo, Japan, relocated to Vancouver, Canada in 1993 to study abroad. After completing her Fine Arts degree, she embarked on her Zazen, practicing at Zen Center of Vancouver for three years then later moved to Los Angeles practicing under Jōshū Sasaki Rōshi for seven years. Following Jōshū Rōshi’s passing, Myoren continued her practice at Rinzai-ji, contributing to temple activities and handling administrative responsibilities. In 2020, she took a leave of absence to become an Unsui at the Japanese training monastery, Shōgen Sōdō, for three and a half years. Currently, Myoren serves as a temple director at Rinzai-ji.

Yamamoto Sōgen is from Gifu, Japan, and completed his Zen-Humanities degree from Shōgen Junior College in 2015. Following this, he spent six and a half years in monastic training as an Unsui at Shōgen Sōdō. His interest in learning English led him to join Rinzai-ji in 2023, where he now serves as a practice leader.

Special Zazenkai March 6-9
Sesshin March 12-16
Zazenkai 21-23
Hanamatsuri Sesshin April 1-8