Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji

Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, also known as International Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monastery and retreat center situated in the scenic Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. Established on July 4, 1976, the monastery spans 1,400 acres and is nestled in a deciduous forest region near Beecher Lake. It serves as a significant center for Zen practice in the United States, offering a dedicated space for spiritual training and communal living.

Activities and Training

The daily schedule at Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji includes zazen (seated meditation), chanting, and samu (work practice), which are fundamental to Zen monastic life. The center is also known for offering traditional kessei, a rigorous three-month period of intensive spiritual training characteristic of Zen monasteries. In addition to kessei, it hosts weeklong sesshin (intensive meditation retreats) and weekend retreats throughout the year, catering to practitioners seeking deeper engagement with Zen teachings.

Affiliations and Community

Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji is a key component of the Zen Studies Society, an organization founded in 1956 to foster and support the work of the prominent Buddhist scholar D.T. Suzuki. The monastery maintains an affiliation with New York Zendo, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. The Zen Studies Society community celebrated the installation of Abbot Chigan-kutsu Kyo-On Dukuro Jaeckel Roshi on November 24, 2023, following the retirement of Shinge-Shitsu Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi in the same year. The monastery site features 'Sangha Meadow,' a cemetery dedicated to the remains of deceased sangha members, including a portion of the ashes of Soen Nakagawa Roshi.

Historical Context and Controversy

While established in the late 20th century, the monastery has also been associated with historical controversies. In July 2010, Eido Shimano, who co-founded Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji and served as abbot for over three decades, resigned from the Zen Studies Society Board of Directors amidst allegations of inappropriate relationships with female students. A committee formed in 2011 found that such sexual acts were often initiated during formal private sanzen interactions. In response to these controversies, Myoshinji, the headquarters of Shimano's claimed lineage sect, issued a public statement in December 2012, stating they had no connection with Eidō Shimano, his activities, or his affiliated organizations, and that he and his successors were not certified priests or recognized teachers of the Myōshin-ji branch of Zen.