EXPERIENCE

妙心寺 春光院 妙心寺 春光院

Learn self-cultivation through Zen and
other Japanese cultural experiences

Shunkoin is a place of reflection, where we explore and
teach Zen meditation & mindfulness.
Practice at Shunkoin is open to all who are curious and wish
to know themselves more deeply.

[ Learn self-cultivation through Zen and other Japanese
cultural experiences ]

Japanese Cultural Experiences and
Self-cultivation Programs

妙心寺 春光院 妙心寺 春光院

Zen meditation, tea ceremony and calligraphy are conduits for self-exploration. In Buddhism and other Eastern philosophical traditions, the “self” is considered empty of intrinsic existence and nature. The notion of self exists in our connection with constant changing physical environments, connections with people around you, and connections with your “self” (transient physical body). However, we are overconfident about our ability to perceive reality as it is, including “ourselves” in relation to it. We tend to believe that the self is independent and permanent. The biggest bias is the bias of ourselves. Thus, we should bring close attention to all the components of the notion of “ourselves.” This action can help us notice unconscious biases we have in our daily lives. That is the practice of self-cultivation. It helps us to improve our overall well-being by repeatedly investigating our hidden biases.

The three experiences we offer here at the temple all help you experience calmness and awareness. Furthermore, Zen meditation focuses on observation, tea ceremony focuses on connection with others, and calligraphy focuses on expression without words.

Zen meditation, tea ceremony and calligraphy are all self-cultivation practices that can improve your well-being.