You should all have a firm grasp of what my motive was in beginning Kongo Zen Shorinji Kempo. To improve oneself, and to improve the world. It comes down to the desire for personal happiness, combined with the yearning for the happiness of others.

1. NARRATED BY KAISO DOSHIN SO
Brought to you by Kongo school of Zen
Branch – India
www.kongozen.org
Fb: ikongozen

2. I compiled the teachings of
Kongo Zen. They are teachings
from the past, the simplest,
clearest teachings in existence,
preaching mutual respect
between people.
The present manji used by
Kongo Zen is in line with the
Buddhist concept and as a
symbol of Buddhism. Buddha
taught that when all coexisting
phenomenon lived in
accordance with the laws of
nature, absolute tranquility is
achieved – this being the
contents of perfect knowledge.
The manji stands for these
higher ideals which can only be
understood by those whho strive
for truth.

3. Shorinji Kempo was used only
as a means to spread these
teachings, which, like the
Baiyidian mural, have existed
since ancient times. Only the
organization has been changed,
to fit today’s environment. The
point is to use these teachings
skillfully.

4. Kongo Zen offers everyone a
spiritual foundation in the
present world, presenting the
wisdom of the Buddha in such a
way as to bring both physical
and mental peace, and
guarantee a happy and
satisfying life both materially and
spiritually.

5. I was agonized over the
question of how to put the
correct teachings of Buddha to
work in the present-day world.
One night I had a dream, A
heavily bearded Bodhidharma
appeared, pointed out
something to me with his finger
and moved quickly ahead.
Bodhidharma was telling me to
follow him. He was telling me
that no matter how eloquently
one may speak, people will not
follow on that basis alone.

6. I understood that I should
combine my preaching with the
instruction of the Arahan Chuan,
a teaching of Bodhidharma
originating in Ancient India,
which I had practiced with great
enthusiasm in my youth.
This, I was being told, was the
key to success.

7. Encouraged by this revelation, I
moved to establish a new
discipline, using ‘Ken’ as a main
pursuit. My goal was to
combine the teaching of the
correct way with instruction in
the discipline. In this way, I
wanted to allow young people in
search of the correct way to
develop firm mental strength
and a body as hard as a
diamond.

8. I organized this discipline as a
Buddhist approach, consisting of
the pursuit of unity of body and
mind, and unity of strength and
compassion.

9. I adopted the name of “Kongo
Zen,” the holy name of the Deva
Lord said to have founded the
Arahan Chuan in ancient India.

10. I reorganized the various types
of Chuan techniques that I had
learned in China, backed the
results with theory, and
formulated the overall approach
as a Buddhist religious
discipline.
The new discipline which I
began to advocate is today’s
Seito Shorinji Kempo.
Kongo Zen was established to
organize this as a spiritual
discipline.

11. Kongo Zen is not the type of
Buddhism which preach of
paradise or hell after death.
Kongo Zen is not a religion
which paid mere lip service to
enlightenment or oral Zen.

12. Kongo Zen is “putting the
secrets of techniques to work
in everyday life.” It is a
philosophy of harmony.
Kongo Zen teachings is most
steeped in humanity, offering
the greatest blend of material
and mental peace.

13. All things in this world are performed by human beings. It is all a matter of human
quality. Kongo Zen seeks to restructure the mind for this purpose: to draw forth a
sense of justice. Then, instill solid conviction, and move in a positive direction.
This is the way it must be done. This is the main reason for adopting this type of
pursuit in Kongo school of Zen.

14. The best way to bring about peace in
the world is through disciplined
training.

15. You should all have a firm grasp of what my motive was in beginning Kongo
Zen Shorinji Kempo. To improve oneself, and to improve the world. It
comes down to the desire for personal happiness, combined with the
yearning for the happiness of others.
Someone must forge a road. I began Kongo Zen Shorinji Kempo to forge
such a road and to develop leaders.