Sekkei Harada
Biography
Sekkei Harada Roshi (born 1933) is a highly respected contemporary Japanese Rinzai Zen master. He serves as the abbot of Hosshin-ji monastery, a significant training center in the Soto Zen tradition, located in Obama, Fukui Prefecture, Japan. Despite Hosshin-ji being a Soto temple, Harada Roshi received transmission in the Rinzai lineage, which makes his position somewhat unique and demonstrates a bridge between different Zen schools in his teaching approach. He studied extensively under Harada Tangen Roshi, his father, who was also a renowned Zen master. Sekkei Harada Roshi is known for his rigorous training methods, deep insight into Buddhist teachings, and his commitment to presenting Zen in a way that is accessible yet uncompromising. He has taught numerous students, both Japanese and and Western, emphasizing direct experience through zazen (seated meditation) and koan practice. His teachings often stress the importance of understanding one's true nature and living a life of compassion and clarity.
Selected Thoughts
«The most important thing is to sit. Just sit, with no goal, no purpose, just sitting.»
«Enlightenment is not something you gain; it is something you realize you already are.»
«The true nature of mind is always present, regardless of whether you recognize it or not.»
Writing Style
His writing style is direct, clear, and profound, reflecting the Zen emphasis on direct experience and non-conceptual understanding. He often uses traditional Buddhist terminology but strives to explain complex concepts in an understandable manner for both seasoned practitioners and newcomers. His works are primarily transcriptions of his dharma talks (teisho) or commentaries on classical Zen texts, characterized by their practicality, earnestness, and unwavering focus on meditation practice (zazen) as the path to enlightenment. He avoids overly academic or philosophical language, favoring an experiential and embodied approach to teaching Zen.