Shodo Harada (原田正道, Harada Shōdō) (born 1940) is a contemporary Japanese Rinzai Zen Buddhist master. He is the abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Okayama, Japan, and has a significant international following through various affiliated Zen centers and groups worldwide.
Biography and Training: Harada Roshi, as he is commonly known, began his Zen training at an early age. He studied under Yamada Mumon Roshi (1900-1988) at Shofuku-ji monastery in Kobe, Japan, a prominent master in the Myoshin-ji branch of Rinzai Zen. After completing his koan training and receiving dharma transmission from Yamada Mumon Roshi, he was appointed abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in 1982.
Teaching and Philosophy: Harada Roshi is known for his rigorous and traditional approach to Zen practice. His teachings emphasize the importance of zazen (seated meditation) as the direct path to awakening, combined with intensive koan study. He frequently leads sesshin (intensive meditation retreats) both in Japan and internationally, guiding students through the Rinzai Zen curriculum. His core message often revolves around the direct realization of one's true self and the application of Zen understanding to daily life.
International Influence: Under his leadership, Sogen-ji has become a significant center for Zen training for both Japanese and Western students. Harada Roshi has established numerous dharma centers and groups in countries such as the United States (e.g., One Drop Zen in Washington State), Germany, France, India, and other parts of Asia, making him one of the most influential contemporary Rinzai Zen masters with a global reach. Many of his talks and teachings have been translated into English and other languages, contributing to the spread of Rinzai Zen in the West.
Bibliography (Selected Works): While not a prolific author himself, many of his teisho (dharma talks) and commentaries have been transcribed and published.
- Moon by the Window: The Zen Way to Happy and Meaningful Life (Edited talks)
- The Case of the Silent Sutra: Zen Talks at Mount Baldy (Foreword)