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