Rempo Niwa Zenji

Zuigaku Rempo Niwa Zenji (1905—1993)[1] was a Japanese Zen master.[1]

Biography

Rempo Zenji was born in Shizuoka, Japan.[2] His father was a schoolmaster and his mother was a farmer.[2]

After graduating from Tokyo University, he became the head official in Tokei-in[2] and later studied at Antai-ji.[3] At the age of 50,[4] Niwa became the 77th abbot of the Eihei-ji monastery.[1][5] He also received the imperial title of Jikô Enkai Zenji (“Great Zen Master of Compassion, Ocean of Plenitude”).[1]

An avid practitioner of zazen, he rebuilt the zendo (meditation hall) so that the young people in training could better engage in this essential practice.[4]

His dharma heirs include Gudō Wafu Nishijima[6][7] and Moriyama Daigyo as well as several teachers affiliated with the Taisen Deshimaru Lineage in Europe.[1]

Zenji (literally, "Zen Master") is an honorary title given to the senior Eihei temple (Eihei-ji), headquarters of the Sōtō school, founded in the thirteenth century by Master Dogen.

Outside of Zen, he created brush calligraphy.[8] His work was often credited to various pseudonyms.[8]

Niwa died in 1993.[1][2]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Niwa, Zuigaku Rempô". Sweeping Zen. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Dogen Sangha (4) The Two Reverend Masters". Gudō Wafu Nishijima. August 15, 2006. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  3. Weitsman, Mel; Wenger, Michael; Okumura, Shōhaku. Dogen Zenji's Shobogenzo Genjo-koan. p. 132. ISBN 9781582437439.
  4. 1 2 "Qué es lo que usted desearía saber a propósito del templo" (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 December 2014.
  5. Victoria, Brian (2006). Zen at War. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. p. xiii. ISBN 9780742539266.
  6. Warner, Brad (2003). Hardcore Zen: Punk Rock, Monster Movies and the Truth About Reality. Wisdom Publications. p. 52. ISBN 0-86171-380-X.
  7. "OBITUARY: Gudo Wafu Nishijima". Sweeping Zen. January 30, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  8. 1 2 "About Treeleaf and our Lineage". Retrieved September 20, 2015.
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