Shunkoin Temple

Shunkoin Temple Shunkoin Temple offers its Zen meditation, temple stay, and other Japanese cultural activities in Eng Suzuki.

Shunkoin Temple is a historic and historical Zen Buddhist temple in Kyoto and established in 1590. Dr. Shinichi Hisamatsu lived at the temple and discussed Zen philosophy with D.T. Now, the temple offers Zen and mindfulness classes and temple accommodation services in English for the visitors from all over the world.

Autumn arrives quietly.Kyoto is still warm with the lingering heat of summer, yet within the garden at Shunkoin Temple, ...
06/09/2026

Autumn arrives quietly.

Kyoto is still warm with the lingering heat of summer, yet within the garden at Shunkoin Temple, the season has already begun to turn.

A trace of crimson appears among the leaves. Berries slowly mature. Delicate new colors emerge, while the evening sky above the temple roofs shifts from gold to violet.

There is no single moment when summer becomes autumn. Transformation happens gradually—through countless conditions, often before we become aware of it.

Zen invites us to observe ourselves in much the same way.

We often imagine the self as something continuous and fixed, moving through a changing world. Yet when we become quiet enough to pay attention, another possibility emerges: the self itself is an interdependent and constantly changing condition.

To spend time in a Zen temple is therefore not simply to step away from the pace of everyday life. It is an invitation to notice more deeply—to encounter the garden, the seasons, and ultimately ourselves with a different quality of attention.

Early September at Shunkoin Temple, Kyoto.

A couple of nights ago, I had the pleasure of sharing dinner with Dr. Hiroshi Ishii of the MIT Media Lab and Ms. Maiko M...
07/08/2026

A couple of nights ago, I had the pleasure of sharing dinner with Dr. Hiroshi Ishii of the MIT Media Lab and Ms. Maiko Meguro, an AI policy analyst at the OECD.

Dr. Ishii, the Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and Associate Director of the MIT Media Lab, is renowned for his pioneering work in human-computer interaction, Tangible Bits, and Radical Atoms, exploring the relationship between the digital and physical worlds.

Our conversation ranged across artificial intelligence, embodied cognitive science, AI governance, Buddhist notions of the self, and one of the defining questions of our time: What does it mean to be human?

From a Zen perspective, I shared the view that the self is not an independent or fixed existence, but an interdependent and constantly changing condition. This led us to reflect on how Buddhist notions of the self might enrich democracy—not by replacing the idea of the individual, but by reminding us that freedom and responsibility arise within relationships and mutual dependence.

We also discussed how Japan can attract and retain exceptional talent. Competitive salaries and world-class research facilities are essential, but they are not enough. Equally important is whether Japan can offer serendipity—places where unexpected encounters, interdisciplinary dialogue, and genuine human connection can flourish. Many of the most transformative ideas emerge not from carefully planned meetings, but from conversations that no one could have anticipated.

Conversations like these remind me that the future of AI cannot be separated from philosophy, public policy, and our understanding of ourselves.

Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing dinner with Dr. Hiroshi Ishii of the MIT Media Lab and Ms. Maiko Meguro, an AI...
07/08/2026

Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing dinner with Dr. Hiroshi Ishii of the MIT Media Lab and Ms. Maiko Meguro, an AI policy analyst at the OECD.

Dr. Ishii, the Jerome B. Wiesner Professor of Media Arts and Sciences and Associate Director of the MIT Media Lab, is renowned for his pioneering work in human-computer interaction, Tangible Bits, and Radical Atoms, exploring the relationship between the digital and physical worlds.

Our conversation ranged across artificial intelligence, embodied cognitive science, AI governance, Buddhist notions of the self, and one of the defining questions of our time: What does it mean to be human?

From a Zen perspective, I shared the view that the self is not an independent or fixed existence, but an interdependent and constantly changing condition. This led us to reflect on how Buddhist notions of the self might enrich democracy—not by replacing the idea of the individual, but by reminding us that freedom and responsibility arise within relationships and mutual dependence.

We also discussed how Japan can attract and retain exceptional talent. Competitive salaries and world-class research facilities are essential, but they are not enough. Equally important is whether Japan can offer serendipity—places where unexpected encounters, interdisciplinary dialogue, and genuine human connection can flourish. Many of the most transformative ideas emerge not from carefully planned meetings, but from conversations that no one could have anticipated.

Conversations like these remind me that the future of AI cannot be separated from philosophy, public policy, and our understanding of ourselves.

From panel discussions to conversations over coffee, shared meals, and new friendships, the U.S.–Japan Leadership Progra...
03/08/2026

From panel discussions to conversations over coffee, shared meals, and new friendships, the U.S.–Japan Leadership Program Fellows Weekend reminded me that meaningful dialogue extends far beyond the conference stage.

It was a privilege to reconnect with old friends and meet inspiring delegates and fellows from public service, business, technology, academia, the arts, and civil society.

One of the central questions throughout the weekend was: As artificial intelligence becomes increasingly capable, what does it mean to be human?

As a Zen priest, I shared a perspective that has guided my practice: the self is not an independent or fixed existence, but an interdependent and constantly changing condition.

I also suggested that vulnerability may be fundamental to consciousness. Every living being exists in a state of vulnerability, continually responding to changing conditions while striving to sustain the conditions necessary for life. Perhaps consciousness emerges not simply from computational complexity, but from this ongoing engagement with vulnerability, interdependence, and adaptation.

Thank you to everyone for your generosity, curiosity, and friendship. I return to Kyoto inspired by the conversations we shared and the questions we continue to explore together.

On the morning of July 18, I joined Ana Arriola for a dialogue at Tokyo Salon 2026, hosted by Semi Permanent at Soho Hou...
20/07/2026

On the morning of July 18, I joined Ana Arriola for a dialogue at Tokyo Salon 2026, hosted by Semi Permanent at Soho House Tokyo.

Our conversation moved across Zen, Eastern philosophy, artificial intelligence, consciousness, the self, and Craig Reynolds’ Boids—a model in which complex collective patterns emerge through simple local interactions.

We were also fortunate to have artificial life researcher Takashi Ikegami in the audience. During the conversation, he shared a video of Boids, bringing the idea of emergence vividly into the room and adding another dimension to our exchange.

One of the central questions was: What is the self?

From a Zen perspective, the self is not a fixed or independent existence. It is an interdependent and constantly changing condition, emerging through countless relationships with other people, our environment, memory, language, culture, and time.

Boids offered a compelling point of comparison. No single agent controls the whole, yet coherent patterns emerge through relationships and changing conditions. In a similar way, what we call the self may not be an isolated entity, but a dynamic pattern that is continually arising and transforming.

Thank you to Ana Arriola, Takashi Ikegami, Semi Permanent, and everyone who joined us for such a thoughtful and unexpected exchange.

These dialogues continue at Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto, where guests are invited to explore Zen philosophy, consciousness, and the nature of the self through meditation and direct conversation.







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In Zen, we often speak of practice not as becoming someone new, but as learning to see clearly.Like the lotus opening to...
16/07/2026

In Zen, we often speak of practice not as becoming someone new, but as learning to see clearly.

Like the lotus opening to the morning light, understanding unfolds in its own time—not through force, but through patient attention.

This summer, step away from Kyoto’s crowds and discover a quieter rhythm at Shunkoin Temple, where meditation, dialogue, and contemplation invite a different way of experiencing Japan.

No mud, no lotus.The lotus does not bloom by escaping the mud. It emerges from it.Perhaps transformation is not found by...
15/07/2026

No mud, no lotus.

The lotus does not bloom by escaping the mud. It emerges from it.

Perhaps transformation is not found by leaving the complexities of life behind, but by seeing them differently.

At Shunkoin Temple in Kyoto, Zen is not presented as an escape from the world. Through meditation and dialogue, we explore the self as interdependent, constantly changing, and inseparable from the conditions that shape us.

For those who wish to travel beyond sightseeing, Kyoto can still offer moments of genuine encounter.

The mud is not separate from the flower.

住所

右京区花園妙心寺町 42
Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
616-8035

電話番号

+81754625488

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