Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi
Kobun Chino Otogawa Roshi (1938-2002) was a Zen master who deeply touched many people with his gentleness and kindness. Coming from a traditional Japanese temple family of the Soto Zen Tradition, he sought and found his own, very personal path, which finally led him to the USA, where he mainly lived since 1967. He supported Suzuki Roshi in Tassajara, the first Zen monastery outside Asia, until Suzuki’s death, and later founded Jikoji in the mountains above Santa Cruz, California, and Hokoji in New Mexico. As of 1989, he came to Europe several times a year and led sesshins, especially in Puregg in the Salzburg Alps, which he named Jakkoji. Kobun, as his students and friends called him, was also a calligrapher, painter, archer, flute player and poet and an excellent cook. He drowned in an attempt to save his five-year-old daughter in 2002.
The Zen that he taught and lived differed fundamentally from his own strict temple training in Japan – a friendly, open, warm-hearted Zen that he passed on to his students. One of these lines also leads to Felsentor, where Zen is practiced and taught following Kobun Chino Roshi’s tradition.
If you would like to get to know our Zen practice better, you are sincerely invited to participate in one of the upcoming Zazenkais, practice days or action days, Felsentor sesshins or our annual practice period.
