Mission Statement

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 Lou Mitsunen Nordstrom Rōshi began practicing Zen in 1969. He earned a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Columbia University, where he taught until 1970. In 1974 he gave up a tenured position at Marymount College to become a Rinzai Zen monk with Eido Shimano Rōshi, and served as Eido Rōshi’s head monk at Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji in the Catskill Mountains between 1974 and 1976. During his time at Dai Bosatsu, he was also Sōen Nakagawa Rōshi’s jisha. 

This forged his life-long connection with Sōen Rōshi, from whom he would later receive Dharma Transmission (Inka Shōmei), in an intimate, informal ceremony in 1982. At this time Sōen Rōshi called Mitsunen “a true Zen Man.” Mitsunen Rōshi put to use his academic skill set to edited the seminal work “Namu Dai Bosa: A Transmission of Zen Buddhism to America,” an anthology of the works of Nyogen Senzaki, Sōen Nakagawa Rōshi, and Eido Shimano Rōshi, which was published in 1976.

During that year, Mitsunen Rōshi left Dai Bosatsu and returned to Manhattan to teach and live a “normal” life. But his desire for monastic life returned, and in 1980, he began studying with Taizan Maezumi Rōshi and Bernie Tetsugen Glassman Sensei. During the beginning of this time, Maezumi Rōshi expressed his desire for Mitsunen to be his successor. However, he would need to stay in New York and help build the Zen Community of New York, where he would serve as director of Training, Liturgy and Study under Tetsugen Sensei. In 1983, Mitsunen received the formal written kirigami of Forbearance from Tetsugen promising Dharma transmission. In 1988 Mitsunen left Greyson and started leading Zen retreats at Southern Dharma Retreat Center, which he would continue to do until 1998.

In 1998, Mitsunen Rōshi received Dharma Transmission (Shiho) in the Soto White Plum Lineage from Tetsugen Rōshi. In 1999, he started leading retreats in Florida. In 2001, Mitsunen Rōshi founded Ryugen-Ji, Brevard Zen Center in Cocoa, Florida. In 2008, Mitsunen Rōshi founded Hokori-ji Zen Center, in Lakeland Florida where he continues to lead retreats. He has since published four books entitled “Zazen Without The Za,” “Memoirs Of An American Zen Pioneer,” “Painted Cakes,” and "Raw and Open, Like a Wound." These are collections of talks, essays and memoirs spanning over 50 years of Zen practice and teaching. These books can be ordered through Amazon.com.

                            Each dawn

                            Putting on

                            The great armor

                            Of defenselessness.

                                     -Mitsunen Kyogen Rōshi 

     Mico Mushin Ryūtaku Olmos Rōshi first encountered Zen Buddhism during a family visit to Japan at age 6. 18 years later, while a Religious Studies major at Hunter College, he met Lou Mitsunen Nordstrom Rōshi, through whom he realized his deep affinity for Zen and began practice. During his first sesshin with Mitsunen Rōshi, Ryūtaku became Rōshi’s student. 

    In 2001 Ryūtaku moved to Los Angeles with his wife and dog, but continued his training with Mitsunen Rōshi. Ryūtaku received Jukai in 2001 and Tokudo (monk ordination) in 2002 from Mitsunen Rōshi. He makes frequent trips to the Ryūgen-Ji and Hokori Zen Centers to study with Mitsunen Rōshi.  Ryūtaku began sitting with Ocean Moon Sangha in 2018. In 2019 Ryūtaku was named Dharma Holder by Mitsunen Rōshi allowing him to teach. Ryūtaku assumed leadership of Ocean Moon Sangha in 2020. Ryūtaku worked hard to keep the Sangha sitting together on Zoom during the first 18 months of the COVID pandemic. In 2021 Ryūtaku was given Dharma Transmission by Mitsunen Rōshi in the Rinzai Mushroom Monk Lineage of Sōen Nakagawa Rōshi. In 2023, in an intimate, informal ceremony, Mitsunen Rōshi gave Inka Shōmei in the Rinzai Mushroom Monk Lineage of Mitta-Kutsu Nakagwa Sōen Rōshi presenting Ryūtaku with the title of Rōshi; he also presented Shiho in the White Plum Lineage to Ryūtaku.  

   Ocean Moon Sangha embraces both Rinzai and Soto Lineages. As such, this allows for the embodiment of this Endless Dimension Universal Life. 

    Ryūtaku Rōshi currently lives in Venice, CA with his wife, three daughters and two dogs.