Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Temple

Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji is a Rinzai-style Zen temple located on North Beacon Hill in Seattle, Washington. Its name, translated from Japanese, signifies "Listening to the Dharma Zen Temple on Great Plum Mountain," reflecting its dedication to Buddhist teachings and practice.

History and Lineage

The temple was founded in 1983 by Zen Master Genki Takabayashi. Takabayashi Rōshi had a deep connection to Zen practice, having trained for nearly twenty years at Daitoku-ji, one of the two principal parent temples of the Rinzai school in Japan. He also directed a Rinzai temple in Kamakura before coming to Seattle. Takabayashi Rōshi retired in 1997 and passed away in 2013.

In 1999, Genjo Marinello Oshō succeeded Genki Rōshi as the second abbot of Chobo-ji. Marinello Oshō began his Zen training in 1975 and was ordained as a novice monk in 1980. He underwent further training in Japan and later with Eido Shimano Rōshi, abbot of Dai Bosatsu Monastery, from whom he received dharma transmission in 2008. Marinello Oshō is also a licensed psychotherapist and has been involved in various interfaith and community service activities, including volunteering as a Buddhist pastor and serving on interfaith trauma response teams.

Practice and Activities

Dai Bai Zan Cho Bo Zen Ji is an active center for Zen Buddhism, offering a range of programs for practitioners. These include weekly introductions to Zen, daily zazen (seated meditation), bimonthly Sunday Dharma Talks, quarterly week-long sesshins, and monthly half-day sesshins. The temple also engages in Prison Dharma Work, extending its teachings to correctional facilities. The temple's activities and teachings are rooted in the Rinzai Zen tradition.