Rinzai Zen Buddhism, as taught by Kyozan Joshu Sasaki, Roshi, is the spiritual basis for practice at the Albuquerque Zen Center. One of the two main Zen lineages, Rinzai Zen is in the tradition of Lin-chi (Jap. Rinzai), a prominent 10th century Chinese Ch’an master. AZC is affiliated with a network of Zen centers following Joshu Roshi’s teaching. The main temple is Rinzai-ji in Los Angeles. Other major centers are Mt. Baldy Zen Center in Mt. Baldy, Calif., and Bodhi Manda Zen Center in Jemez Springs, N. M.

Tathagata Zen

Joshu Roshi is the foremost proponent in America of Nyorai (Tathagata) Zen. Tathagata Zen teaching emphasizes the dynamic nature of Dharma. Tathagata Zen teaching declares that the Dharmakaya, perfect complete unity, is never fixed. It is always spontaneously dividing itself and reuniting to realize a new Dharmakaya.

The Dharmakaya divides itself into two primal activities, Tathagata and Tathaagata, or expansion and contraction, which gives rise to the three worlds of past, present and future. Self, world, space and time – everything – arise from the Dharmakaya dividing itself and everything returns to the Dharmakaya as expansion and contraction reunite. The aim of Tathagata Zen practice is to manifest our true nature, emptiness or zero, and realize dharma activity as our true self. This is the practice of realizing true love.