Koho Kenichi

"To depart while seated or standing is all one. All I shall leave behind me Is a heap of bones. In empty space I twist and soar And come down with the roar of thunder To the sea."

"Here in a thatched hut hidden among mountain peaks with barely room for one I am suddenly invaded by wandering white clouds."

"Koho Kenichi (1241-1316) was one of the most renowned Zen prelates of his era, his era, not least because of his Japanese origin. As son of , he began his religious career in the esoteric Buddhist school. In 1256 he was admitted into the Tofukuji by Enni Ben'en. Four years later he met Gottan Funei, who had just moved there from China. As instructed by his teacher Enni Ben'en, Koho followed Gottan Funei to Kamakura. On Ichio Ingo's recommendation he came under the care of Koho Kennichi. He was calm and self-willed and preferred to live in seclusion. For this reason he spent many years in a remote area until his appointment as leading priest of the Jomyoji in 1300 and later of the Manjuji in Kamakura. In 1314 Mugaku Sogen entrusted him with the leadership of the great Kenchoji."

"Shuhu Myocho studied Tendai Buddhism as a youth but came to feel the knowledge of the scriptures was insufficient. He turned instead to Zen with its emphasis on practice. He was a disciple of Koho Kenichi, the teacher of Muso Soseki (1275 – 1351), and after becoming a priest he achieved enlightenment and spent time in Kamakura, where he was briefly abbot of Kencho-ji. He subsequently returned to Kyoto, spending over seven years living with beggars under Gojo Bridge."