Seven individuals in traditional robes stand in a line on a paved path, with a large tree and buildings visible in the background.

Rinzai-ji Zen Center

### Context Profile for Rinzai-ji Zen Center

1. **Organization Mission & Cause:**
   - The Rinzai-ji Zen Center is dedicated to the practice and teaching of Zen Buddhism. Their mission is to provide a supportive environment for individuals seeking to deepen their understanding of Zen through meditation, retreats, and community engagement. They emphasize the importance of mindfulness and the teachings of Zen masters, particularly focusing on the legacy of Bodhidharma, the founder of Zen.

2. **Type of Activities:**
   - **Retreats and Sesshin:** The center hosts various retreats, including the Darumaki Sesshin, which commemorates Bodhidharma's death. These retreats involve intensive meditation, Dharma talks, and opportunities for personal interviews with Zen teachers.
   - **Community Programs:** Regular events and teachings are offered to the community, fostering a space for individuals to practice Zen together.
   - **Workshops and Classes:** Educational programs are available to introduce participants to Zen practices and philosophies.

3. **Tone of Voice:**
   - The tone of the Rinzai-ji Zen Center's communications is **friendly**, **supportive**, and **inspiring**. The language is accessible, aiming to welcome individuals of all backgrounds to Zen practice. There is a balance between formality, especially when discussing teachings, and a warm, inviting tone when addressing participants.

4. **Emoji Usage:**
   - The organization does not appear to use emojis in their communications. Their content maintains a professional and respectful tone, which aligns with the traditional nature of Zen practices.

5. **Key Facts:**
   - **Founding Information:** Specific founding details are not prominently featured on the website, but the center is rooted in the teachings of Zen Buddhism.
   - **Scale:** The center has a robust schedule of activities, with 19 total forms and 22 email campaigns indicating active engagement with their community.
   - **Impact Metrics:** While specific metrics are not detailed, the organization emphasizes participation in retreats and community events, suggesting a focus on engagement and personal growth.
   - **Volunteer Information:** There is mention of work exchange or reduced fees for those experiencing financial hardship, indicating a commitment to inclusivity.

6. **Writing Guidelines:**
   - **Clarity and Simplicity:** Use clear and straightforward language to communicate ideas, ensuring accessibility for all readers.
   - **Respectful and Inviting:** Maintain a tone that is respectful of Zen traditions while being inviting to newcomers.
   - **Structured Information:** Present information in a well-organized manner, using headings and bullet points where appropriate to enhance readability.
   - **Personal Connection:** Incorporate personal touches, such as addressing readers directly and acknowledging their journey in Zen practice.

This context profile provides a comprehensive overview of the Rinzai-ji Zen Center, enabling AI assistants to generate tailored and relevant content that aligns with the organization's mission and values.

Full-time Ango Registration

LXCL:For those who are participating for Ozesshin part of Summer Ango. Please indicate which Ozesshin you're registering for.

Ozesshin Registration (5-day)

LXCL:This is a daily fee. Select number of day you’ll be participating. Requirement: One full day attendance.

Ozesshin Part-time Registration

Ango Registration (Pay by Check or Cash)

LXCL:Discounted rate for Summer Ango full-time participants

The Mimyō Daishi 650th Anniversary Commemorative Ōzesshin

Summer Ango at Rinzai-ji Zen Center August 14 &ndash; 26, 2026 At the heart of traditional Zen monastic training is Ango, or &ldquo;peaceful dwelling&rdquo; &mdash; a period of intensive practice held twice a year for three months. This tradition dates back over 2,500 years to the time of the Buddha, when he and his disciples would remain in one place during the rainy season to devote themselves to meditation and study. Rinzai-ji Zen Center is honored to welcome Jiun Zenji of Shōgen Sōdō Monastery in Gifu, Japan, as the lead teacher for this year&rsquo;s Summer Ango. From evening of&nbsp;Friday, August 14 to Friday, August 26, this intensive training period offers a rare and precious opportunity to engage deeply in Rinzai Zen practice within a monastic-style schedule. While this Ango will not span the full three months of a traditional training term, it will include a rigorous schedule of daily zazen, samu (work practice), chanting, and two 5-day sesshins. We warmly invite everyone &mdash; whether local or distant, resident or lay &mdash; to participate to the extent they are able. This period of Ango will serve as preparation for the upcoming Mimyō Daishi 650th Commemorative Ōzesshin, led by Yamakawa Kanchō Geika, to be held from August 30 (Sunday) to September 1 (Tuesday). Following the completion of Ango, the practice will continue seamlessly into this special and rare gathering, offering participants an opportunity to deepen and carry forward their training. As part of this year&rsquo;s practice, those who complete full-time Summer Ango will be eligible for a reduced registration rate for the Mimyō Daishi 650th Commemorative Ōzesshin ($300).&nbsp; Practicing together in the midst of everyday life in a busy modern city challenges us to discover what remains unmoved even as the winds of life blow from every direction. Lead Teacher Jiun Varant Arslanian, head monk at Shōgen Sōdō (senmon dōjō), has been training in Rinzai Zen monasteries in Japan for nearly two decades. He began his training at Heirinji and now resides at Shōgenji. Jiun Zenji has led several sesshins and events at Rinzai-ji and currently serves as a practice advisor for training at the center. Rinzai-ji Resident Monk Myōren Yasukawa, originally from Japan, began her Zen practice in Vancouver, Canada, where she practiced for three years. She later moved to Los Angeles to begin full-time training under Jōshū Sasaki Rōshi for seven years. In 2020, she formally entered (katō) Shōgen Sōdō Monastery in Japan as an unsui (novice monk), where she continued her training for over three years before being called back to Rinzai-ji. She currently serves as the temple director of Rinzai-ji Zen Center. <hr fr-original-style="" style="clear: both; -webkit-user-select: none; break-after: page; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;">Sesshin Schedule&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;5-day Sesshin:&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;August 15 (Sat) - 19 (Wed)&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;August 21 (Fri) - 25 (Tue) Sesshin Suggested Fees:$700 Full-time Ango&nbsp;$300 5-day Sesshin$60 per day Sesshin part-time&nbsp; If you are experiencing financial hardship, you are welcome to click &#39;Ango Registration (Pay by Check or Cash) then select &ldquo;Add a Donation&rdquo; and contribute an amount that fits within your budget. Your sincere participation is most important. <hr fr-original-style="" style="clear: both; -webkit-user-select: none; break-after: page; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"> Sample of Daily Ango Schedule*&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;3:45 am &ndash; Kaijō (wake-up)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;4:00 &ndash; Sarei (tea), followed by Zazen/Kinhin (sitting &amp; walking meditation)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;6:30 &ndash; Chōka (morning chanting), Shukuza (breakfast), Nitten Sōji (clean-up)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;9:00&ndash; Zazen/Kinhin&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;11:30 &ndash; Saiza (lunch), Sōji (clean-up)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;1:30 pm &ndash; Zazen&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;3:30 &ndash; Hōsan Sarei (tea), Banka (afternoon chanting)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;5:30 &ndash; Yakuseki (dinner)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;7:00 &ndash; Kaihan, followed by Zazen/Kinhin&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;9:00 &ndash; Kaichin (lights out)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Yaza (night sitting) * subject to change<hr fr-original-style="" style="clear: both; -webkit-user-select: none; break-after: page; width: 100%; box-sizing: inherit;"> For inquiries or registration, please contact the Rinzai-ji office. We look forward to sitting with you during this Summer Ango!

Hello <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{firstname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; -webkit-user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">First name <span contenteditable="false" data-custom-variable="{{lastname}}" fr-original-class="fr-deletable styled-tag-chip " fr-original-style="" style="background-color: rgb(248, 248, 255); border: 1px solid rgb(191, 191, 255); border-radius: 4px; color: rgb(42, 42, 196); padding: 1px 8px; font-size: 11px; display: inline-block; margin: 0px; overflow-wrap: anywhere; -webkit-user-select: none; box-sizing: inherit;">Last name, Thank you for registering for Summer Ango at Rinzai-ji. We are honored to welcome you to this intensive period of practice led by Jiun Zenji. Your commitment to deepening your Zen practice is sincerely appreciated, and we look forward to practicing together. Sesshin Schedule during AngoAugust 15 (Sat) - 19 (Wed) August 21 (Fri) - 25 (Tue) Please indicate which Sesshin you&#39;re attending.&nbsp; ArrivalFor those flying into LAX, please arrange your own transportation via Lyft, Uber, or public transit. What to Bring&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Zazen robe and kinhin zōri (will be provided if you do not have your own)&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;Personal Toiletries and Medications&nbsp; &nbsp; &bull; &nbsp; &nbsp;A cup or mug for your room Important Guidelines<ul fr-original-style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-thickness: auto; text-decoration-style: solid;" style="caret-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; text-decoration-thickness: auto; text-decoration-style: solid; box-sizing: inherit;"><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Silence:&nbsp;Observing silence throughout Ango and sesshin is essential. Please speak only when necessary and maintain&nbsp;sasshū&nbsp;(left hand covering the right fist) while walking.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Electronic Devices:&nbsp;All devices must be turned off during sesshin. The shoji will provide a wake-up call each morning.</li><li fr-original-style="" style="box-sizing: inherit;">Health &amp; Safety: If you feel unwell or have been in close contact with someone who is ill, please contact the office and consider participating online instead.</li></ul>If you have any questions or need to update your arrival details, please contact us at&nbsp;office@rinzaiji.org. We look forward to practicing together. Safe travels, and see you soon. Warm wishes,Myōren Yasukawa-----------------------------Temple DirectorRinzai-ji Zen Center

Summer Ango at Rinzai-ji Zen Center August 14 – 26, 2026 At the heart of traditional Zen monastic training is Ango, or “peaceful dwelling” — a period of intensive practice held twice a year for three months. This tradition dates back over 2,500 years to the time of the Buddha, when he and his disciples would remain in one place during the rainy season to devote themselves to meditation and study. Rinzai-ji Zen Center is honored to welcome Jiun Zenji of Shōgen Sōdō Monastery in Gifu, Japan, as the lead teacher for this year’s Summer Ango. From evening of Friday, August 14 to Friday, August 26, this intensive training period offers a rare and precious opportunity to engage deeply in Rinzai Zen practice within a monastic-style schedule. While this Ango will not span the full three months of a traditional training term, it will include a rigorous schedule of daily zazen, samu (work practice), chanting, and two 5-day sesshins. We warmly invite everyone — whether local or distant, resident or lay — to participate to the extent they are able. This period of Ango will serve as preparation for the upcoming Mimyō Daishi 650th Commemorative Ōzesshin, led by Yamakawa Kanchō Geika, to be held from August 30 (Sunday) to September 1 (Tuesday). Following the completion of Ango, the practice will continue seamlessly into this special and rare gathering, offering participants an opportunity to deepen and carry forward their training. As part of this year’s practice, those who complete full-time Summer Ango will be eligible for a reduced registration rate for the Mimyō Daishi 650th Commemorative Ōzesshin ($300).  Practicing together in the midst of everyday life in a busy modern city challenges us to discover what remains unmoved even as the winds of life blow from every direction. Lead Teacher Jiun Varant Arslanian, head monk at Shōgen Sōdō (senmon dōjō), has been training in Rinzai Zen monasteries in Japan for nearly two decades. He began his training at Heirinji and now resides at Shōgenji. Jiun Zenji has led several sesshins and events at Rinzai-ji and currently serves as a practice advisor for training at the center. Rinzai-ji Resident Monk Myōren Yasukawa, originally from Japan, began her Zen practice in Vancouver, Canada, where she practiced for three years. She later moved to Los Angeles to begin full-time training under Jōshū Sasaki Rōshi for seven years. In 2020, she formally entered (katō) Shōgen Sōdō Monastery in Japan as an unsui (novice monk), where she continued her training for over three years before being called back to Rinzai-ji. She currently serves as the temple director of Rinzai-ji Zen Center. <hr />Sesshin Schedule    •    5-day Sesshin:          August 15 (Sat) - 19 (Wed)          August 21 (Fri) - 25 (Tue) Sesshin Suggested Fees:$700 Full-time Ango $300 5-day Sesshin$60 per day Sesshin part-time  If you are experiencing financial hardship, you are welcome to click 'Ango Registration (Pay by Check or Cash) then select “Add a Donation” and contribute an amount that fits within your budget. Your sincere participation is most important. <hr /> Sample of Daily Ango Schedule*    •    3:45 am – Kaijō (wake-up)    •    4:00 – Sarei (tea), followed by Zazen/Kinhin (sitting &amp; walking meditation)    •    6:30 – Chōka (morning chanting), Shukuza (breakfast), Nitten Sōji (clean-up)    •    9:00– Zazen/Kinhin    •    11:30 – Saiza (lunch), Sōji (clean-up)    •    1:30 pm – Zazen     •    3:30 – Hōsan Sarei (tea), Banka (afternoon chanting)    •    5:30 – Yakuseki (dinner)    •    7:00 – Kaihan, followed by Zazen/Kinhin    •    9:00 – Kaichin (lights out)    •    Yaza (night sitting) * subject to change<hr /> For inquiries or registration, please contact the Rinzai-ji office. We look forward to sitting with you during this Summer Ango!

Rinzai-ji Zen Center

Summer Ango 2026

2505 Cimarron Street

Full-time Ango Registration

$700

Ozesshin Registration (5-day)

$300

Ozesshin Part-time Registration

$60

Ango Registration (Pay by Check or Cash)

Free

The Mimyō Daishi 650th Anniversary Commemorative Ōzesshin

$300

Add a donation