The Dōgen Institute

New translation and commentary by Okumura Roshi.
Two Verses Seeing the Death Statement of Kakunen
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/05/31/two-verses-seeing-the-death-statement-of-kakunen/

Image credit: Furnace TappingViktor Mácha, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons
a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Blast_furnace_tapping.jpg">Viktor Mácha, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

New monthly post on gathas by Hoko Karnegis, Senior Dharma Teacher at Sanshinji, in Bloomington, Indiana.
I vow with all beings: Receiving a Teacher’s Guidance
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/05/17/receiving-a-mentors-instruction-2/
Mixed-media image Copyright©2026 Hoko Karnegis

New translation and commentary by Okumura Roshi.
Wind and Clouds Eating Sesame Cakes

https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/05/04/wind-and-clouds-eating-sesame-cakes

Image credit: Hakuin Ekaku (白隠慧鶴) 1686 - 1768, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons Hakuin Ekaku (白隠慧鶴) 1686 - 1768, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Publication Day!
New e-book from the Dogen Institute.
https://dogeninstitute.podia.com/tangible-thusness-clothing-food-and-shelter-made-according-to-the-dharma

In Buddhism, what does it mean to approach our lives from the standpoint of nyoho, the dharma of thusness?

Join Hoko Karnegis along with Koun Franz, Sawyer Jisho Hitchcock, and Hosshin Shoaf in a close examination of the many aspects of nyoho practice within the Soto Zen tradition.

New monthly post on gathas by Hoko Karnegis, Senior Dharma Teacher at Sanshinji, in Bloomington, Indiana.
I vow with all beings: Receiving a Mentor’s Instruction
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/04/19/receiving-a-mentors-instruction/
Mixed-media image Copyright©2026 Hoko Karnegis

New translation and commentary by Okumura Roshi.
A Transformation in the Monastery
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/03/29/a-transformation-in-the-monastery/
Image credit: Greg Peterson, CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

New monthly post on gathas by Hoko Karnegis, Senior Dharma Teacher at Sanshinji, in Bloomington, Indiana.
I vow with all beings: Receiving The Learners’ Precepts
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/03/22/receiving-the-learners-precepts/
Mixed-media image Copyright©2026 Hoko Karnegis

New monthly post on gathas by Hoko Karnegis, Senior Dharma Teacher at Sanshinji, in Bloomington, Indiana.
I vow with all beings: Taking Refuge in the Community
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/02/22/taking-refuge-in-the-community/
Mixed-media image Copyright©2025 Hoko Karnegis

New translation and commentary by Okumura Roshi.
Holding the Universe in a Demon’s Cave
https://dogeninstitute.wordpress.com/2026/02/13/holding-the-universe-in-a-demons-cave-2/
Plaintext image credit: Hal 0005, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

New e-book from Dogen Institute
In this e-book about the Soto Zen Buddhist practice of sesshin, Okumura Roshi helps practitioners prepare for the experience of "just sitting" during a sesshin. Okumura offers a comprehensive exploration of the significance of his teacher Uchiyama Roshi's style of practice, as he comments on a chapter from his teacher's seminal work on zazen, Opening the Hand of Thought. Edited, with a preface by Hoko Karnegis.

138 pages

NB This is in an e-book format only and not for printing. Works best in browsers and Adobe Reader.

Facing the Wall, Facing Ourselves Teachings from Okumura Roshi about sesshin and the practice of sitting zazen. Edited by Hoko Karnegis. e-book