--- In [email protected], "John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
How does a person get the title Roshi ? I am reading about a Zen Group near
me and the Roshi has no information posted as to what tradition of Zen is
taught or who gave him a transmission.I find that curious.
Hi John,
I know in Japan the prevalence and "cheapness" of the title "roshi" (literally,
"old master") in both Japan and in the West are lamented. Hirakawa Akira, the
great scholar of Buddhism in Japan, once remarked " dare de mo roshi"
("Everyone/anyone [these day] is a roshi") when asked about his thoughts on
the different Zen roshis in Japan and America...
I read that the title of "roshi" back in the day was really rare and very
difficult to
obtain. In Mochizuki's "Bukkyo Daijiten" under "roshi" it says that to be
granted
the title of roshi, the person spends many years of training under a roshi
which includes both meditation and public "dharma contests" (hossen) with
other Zen masters. Finally, the person (monk or layperson - both male or
female) attains "enlightenment (--> satori or kenshou), is able to live this
realization 24/7 in everyday life (--> mujodo no taigen) and is capable of
leading others to enlightenment. The person's master then confers the title of
"roshi" through a "seal of confirmation" (inka shomei). In other words,
according to Mochizuki, a "roshi" should have an "inka shomei" (which would
list his/her lineage) ...
I don't think this is the situation currently in both Japan and in the West...
Gasso,
ryhorikawa
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