Seki Bokuo (関牧翁)
Seki Bokuo (1903 - 1991) was a priest of the Rinzai Sect in Japan.
The chief abbot of Tenryu-ji Temple school of the Rinzai sect. The two-hundred-forty-first chief priest of Tenryu-ji Temple. His imina (personal name) was Giso. His go (priestly name) was Shittashitsu. He was known as a free-spirited Zen priest, who forced through reforms of the shusei (rules) of Tenryu-ji Temple. His known disciples include Sogen OMORI, Takayoshi KATO, Seiko HIRATA, and Arakane Tenrin.
Biography
He was from Shimonita-machi, Kanra-gun, Gunma Prefecture. Inspired by the concept of 'Atarashiki Mura' (new village) propounded by Saneatsu MUSHANOKOJI, he taught young people in 'Ai no Mura' (village of love) at the foot of Mt. Ibuki.
In 1928, he enter the Buddhist priesthood in Zuigan-ji Temple, Gifu Prefecture.
In 1930, he entered Tenryu So-do Hall (A hall for meditation) in Sagano and hung Shakujo (a priest's pewter staff) on a hook on the wall, and succeeded to the teachings of Seki Seisetsu
In 1939, he gained the Shike (Training Master's credentials) of Tenryu So-do-Hall. In 1946, he was appointed the eighth chief abbot of the Tenryu-ji Temple school of the Rinzai sect.
In 1991, he passed away at the age of 87.
Books
Mazen' Shunjusha Publishing Company, 1964
Danshi Hyakusho' (Boys Win A Hundred Times) The Mainichi Newspapers, 1980
Cho taru Kokoro' (Heart as A Leader) The Mainichi Newspapers
Zen no Hanashi' (Story of Zen) The Mainichi Newspapers, 1981
Satoru' (Enlightened) The Mainichi Newspapers, 1981