A little temple with a big heart.

Kojin-an means "Good People Hermitage". It's a second home to many people committed to bringing the spirit of Zen practice into daily their lives.  This humble temple was built similarly to neighborhood and family temples all over Japan. It's a lovely space to practice within in the company of friends. You have our warmest invitation to join us and experience Zen through meditation (known as zazen) and in the traditional Japanese arts of calligraphy, tea ceremony, and enjoying the company of good people.

 
 
 
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Temple Activities

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坐禅

The practice of zen

Shikantaza or “just sitting” emphasizes returning to proper posture, breath, and awareness moment by moment.

For several decades the Sunday morning Zazenkai, or "sitting group", has been the warm heart of practice at Kojin An. We sit Zazen, with the option of one or two 40 minute periods of sitting, followed by a brief formal service reciting the Great Heart Sutra, zendo cleaning, and ending with informal tea and conversation.

Learn more about Zen

SCHEDULE

Sunday Service
8am - Early Zazen (40min)
8:40am - Kinhin (Walking meditation)
9am - Zazen (40min)
9:40am - Service
~10am - Soji (Cleaning)
~10:30am - Tea

Fridays
6am - Zazen (40min)
6:40am - 7:30am - Service

General Weekdays
Morning Zazen available.
Please inquire during Sunday tea time.

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茶道

Tea ceremony

The way of tea provides a bridge between an internal practice, like Zazen, and our external relationships with people and objects. Tea focuses the mind in the present moment, in “ichi go ichi e” a unique meeting once in a lifetime. Tea class provides a bridge between the material and spiritual world, between the abstract and the pragmatic, between people and wider nature. It is a venue to appreciate beautiful works of art and share warm social interactions.

SCHEDULE

Most Saturdays

Contact us for upcoming classes.

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書道

CALLIGRAPHY

The Kojin An Sangha holds practice and lessons in traditional Japanese brush calligraphy most Saturdays. Usually taught by the accomplished Yoko Muroga sensei who has been practicing daily for many years. Both kanji and hiragana are practiced in a quiet and relaxed setting. A basic literacy in Japanese may be helpful, though not necessary.

Occasionally workshops are also held in Sumi-e painting, and in Shakyo sutra copying.

SCHEDULE

Most Saturdays

Contact us for upcoming classes.


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about YOUR FIRST visit

Not all residents on the property are involved in temple activities and we ask that their privacy at home is respected. Because we are not a strictly public space we kindly ask that new visitors contact us prior to their first visit. We also ask that people do not visit outside of scheduled practice times without previous arrangements.

Learn more

 

Our Teachers

 
 

Meet the Akibas

Kojin-an has a warm community the atmosphere is rigorous and deep, yet open and friendly. Our sangha is led by Gengo and Yoshi Akiba who share a global vision of the dharma. For decades they have created venues for the like-minded to come together.

Rev. Gengo Akiba is an Eiheiji-trained Soto Zen priest who has participated in and supported Zen practice across the US, Japan, and Europe.

Ms. Yoshi Akiba is a spiritual-interpretive dancer, a multidisciplinary artist, a licensed teacher in the Omotesenke Way of Tea, the eponymous founder of Yoshi's jazz club, and co-founder of the educational nonprofit 51Oakland.

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The Tenpyozan project is envisioned as a place for students of all the various lineages of Soto Zen to come together to practice. It will be a laboratory for the continuing process of transmission, translation, and adaptation. The project is supported by Zen teachers and practitioners from around the world. The buildings are currently under construction three hours drive North of San Francisco.