Our Teacher
Meido (明道) Moore Roshi is the founding shike (training master or abbot) of
Korinji, and guiding teacher of Rinzai Zen International. He is author
of The Rinzai Zen Way: A Guide to Practice and Hidden Zen: Practices for Sudden
Awakening and Embodied Realization (both from Shambhala Publications).
Meido Roshi began Zen practice in 1988 after completing a degree in religious studies at Rutgers University and participating in the Antioch Buddhist Studies program in Bodh Gaya, India. He trained under three Rinzai Zen masters in the lineage of Omori Sogen Roshi: Toyoda Temzam Rokoji, Hosokawa Dogen Roshi, and Sozan Miller Roshi. Under these teachers he undertook long-term residential training, completed the koan curriculum of this lineage, and studied the broader body of Rinzai Zen practices transmitted within it.
In 2008, at the age of forty, he received inka shomei, or “mind seal,” recognizing him as an 86th-generation Rinzai Zen lineage holder. In 2013 he was installed as the first Korinji abbot, and in 2018 began overseeing training at the completed monastery. He continues to learn from his living Zen teachers who serve as important advisors.
In order to broaden his grasp of Japanese Buddhist practice, Meido Roshi later undertook training in Japan under Shingon, Tendai, and Shugendo teachers. He completed Shingon shido kegyo, received denbo kanjo, and later received full lineage (dento) transmission of Ein Horyu, the major Tozan Shingon Shugendo practice lineage.
Before Korinji’s completion, Meido Roshi taught Japanese martial arts professionally for twenty-five years. He served as Director of the Aikido Association of America and Aikido Association International, founded a network of dojo based in Chicago, and taught internationally. He was a student of classical martial arts under the late Shinbukan Headmaster Kuroda Tetsuzan Sensei. He is certified as shihan, master-level teacher, 7th dan, by the Aikido World Headquarters in Tokyo, and leads the budo training at Korinji.
Meido Roshi also practices Kogetsu Enshu-ryu Zen Sado under the guidance of its Headmaster, Nakamura Nyosen Soke, who has awarded him the jun-shihan, assistant instructor, certificate. He studies calligraphy and ceramics, and is a trained bladesmith.
Meido Roshi travels widely to lead retreats and conduct training for Korinji’s worldwide community. He returns frequently to Japan to continue training under his teachers there.