Inka Shomei Documents

Inka shomei, also called "mind seal," is certification as a Zen lineage holder. This is one of the things required before one may become a fully empowered Rinzai Zen teacher, qualified to train students of one's own.

There are documents received from one's master as proof of inka shomei. At Tenryuji – the headquarters temple in Japan through which our lineage passed – the custom has been for the shike (abbot) to publicly display these at each New Year. For this reason, and because fraudulent teachers are increasingly common, we have been directed by our own teachers to display the images below. They show the Rinzai Zen dharma transmission lineage (Teido Denpo) carried by Meido Roshi, and the past few generations of inka marking the establishment of Omori Roshi's  line in the West.

Our members may also be interested in this short talk by Meido Roshi explaining the meaning of inka shomei, what it is (and isn't), teacher certifcation in our community, and more.