Shodo Harada

Shodo Harada (born August 26, 1940), commonly known as Harada Roshi, is a respected Rinzai Zen Buddhist priest, author, and calligrapher. He holds the significant position of head abbot at Sōgen-ji, a temple in Okayama, Japan, with a history spanning three centuries. Harada Roshi has earned renown as a "teacher of teachers," attracting masters from diverse Buddhist lineages to participate in sesshin (intensive meditation retreats) with him, both in Japan and during his extensive travels to the United States and Europe.

Biography and Training

Born in Nara, Japan, Harada's encounter with his teacher, Mumon Yamada, while still in high school sparked his interest in Buddhism. Following college, he entered Shofukuji temple and commenced his Zen training in 1962 under the guidance of Mumon Yamada, a renowned Rinzai Zen master and calligrapher. Harada received Dharma transmission from Yamada in 1982. Later that year, he was dispatched by his teacher to Sōgen-ji to assist the aging abbot, a role that has led him to become the temple's current head abbot and a central figure in its training programs.

Global Reach and Teaching Pillars

Harada Roshi's influence extends globally through what are described as the "four pillars" of his teaching activities. In 1989, he began visiting the United States to provide instruction, leading to the founding of Tahoma Sogenji Zen Monastery on Whidbey Island, Washington, in 1995. This monastery replicates the practices observed at Sōgen-ji in Japan. The third pillar is Indozan Sogenji, located near Adilabad in Telangana, India, where Harada Roshi leads an annual sesshin in August. The fourth pillar is Hokuozan Sogenji in Asendorf, Germany, which serves as the hub for numerous "One Drop" groups across Europe, with Harada Roshi leading sesshins there several times a year. Adjacent to the Tahoma One Drop Monastery, he also established Enso House, a hospice, in 2001.

Notable Works and Influence

Harada Roshi is also recognized for his prolific output as an author and calligrapher. His published works, which often combine Zen teachings with his artistic expressions, include "Morning Dewdrops of the Mind: Teachings of a Contemporary Zen Master" (1993), "The Path to Bodhidharma: Teachings of Shodo Harada Roshi" (2000), "Moon by the Window: The Calligraphy and Zen Insights of Shodo Harada" (2011), and "Not One Single Thing: A Commentary on the Platform Sutra" (2018). His teachings have profoundly influenced many Western Buddhist teachers, including Hogen Bays, Jan Chozen Bays, Mitra Bishop, Alan Hozan Senauke, and Paul Haller. He notably performed the Jukai ceremony for Damien Echols, who began practicing Buddhism while incarcerated.