Venerable Myokyo-ni
Encyclopedia
Myokyo-ni was a Rinzai Zen
Buddhist nun and head of the Zen Centre in London.
Raised in Leitersdorf, Styria, Austria, she obtained a Ph.D.
degree in Natural Sciences from Graz University before joining the Zen Group at the Buddhist Society under Christmas Humphreys
in 1950. In 1960 she went to Japan and trained at Daitoku-ji
monastery for twelve years under Oda Sesso
Rōshi and, after his death, under his successor Sojun Kannun Rōshi. In 1966, she returned to England for nine months, during which time she started a small zazen
Group at the Buddhist Society which continued until she returned permanently in 1972. With the introduction of another Zazen class, and then a beginners' class, running alongside Humphreys' original Zen Class, the Zen Group grew in size until the Zen Centre was formally established in 1979. During this period she was living at Humphreys' residence (she was known to refer to him affectionately as 'Uncle' - Venerable Sōkō Rōshi was known as 'Father'), which was later bequeathed to the Zen Centre, eventually being inaugurated as Shobo-an, the main administrative location and training temple of the Zen Centre.
On July 22, 1984, she was ordained by Sōkō Morinaga
Rōshi, who had been head monk at Daitoku-ji
during her time there. The ordination took place at Chithurst Forest Monastery at the invitation of the Abbot Ajahn Sumedho
, and the Sōkō Morinaga Rōshi gave her the name Myokyo-ni. Myokyo, meaning 'mirror of the subtle', had been the name the Rōshi had given her as a Zen
student in Japan (ni meaning 'nun').
Ven.Myokyo-ni was the author of a number of books on Zen and Buddhism
, including a translation of The Zen Teaching of Rinzai (Linji
).
From 2002 until her death in 2007, Ven. Myokyoni lived at Fairlight (Luton), one of the Zen Centre's two training temples, where she received students and gave regular teisho (Zen talks). Both temples continue to run under her trainees, providing meditation classes, holding regular sesshins and offering residential facilities for Zen Centre members. Fairlight is now run by Ven. Sogen, and Shobo-an in St John's Wood, London is run by Venerable Sochu
.
Ven. Myokyo-ni was given the posthumous title Daiyu Zenji. (Daiyu means 'Great Oak').
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
Buddhist nun and head of the Zen Centre in London.
Raised in Leitersdorf, Styria, Austria, she obtained a Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
degree in Natural Sciences from Graz University before joining the Zen Group at the Buddhist Society under Christmas Humphreys
Christmas Humphreys
Travers Christmas Humphreys, QC was a British barrister who prosecuted several controversial cases in the 1940s and 1950s, and later became a judge at the Old Bailey. He was an enthusiastic Shakespeare scholar and proponent of the Oxfordian theory...
in 1950. In 1960 she went to Japan and trained at Daitoku-ji
Daitoku-ji
is a Buddhist temple, one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. It is located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The "mountain name" , who is known by the title Daitō Kokushi, or "National Teacher of the Great Lamp," that he was given by Emperor Go-Daigo...
monastery for twelve years under Oda Sesso
Oda Sesso
Oda Sessō was a Rinzai Rōshi and abbot of the Daitoku-ji in Kyoto, Japan, a Dharma successor of Gotō Zuigan. He was elected abbot of Daitoku-ji upon Goto's retirement from that post in 1955. At Goto's request, Oda opened Daitoku-ji to foreigners...
Rōshi and, after his death, under his successor Sojun Kannun Rōshi. In 1966, she returned to England for nine months, during which time she started a small zazen
Zazen
In Zen Buddhism, zazen is a meditative discipline practitioners perform to calm the body and the mind, and be able to concentrate enough to experience insight into the nature of existence and thereby gain enlightenment .- Significance :Zazen is considered the heart of Zen Buddhist practice...
Group at the Buddhist Society which continued until she returned permanently in 1972. With the introduction of another Zazen class, and then a beginners' class, running alongside Humphreys' original Zen Class, the Zen Group grew in size until the Zen Centre was formally established in 1979. During this period she was living at Humphreys' residence (she was known to refer to him affectionately as 'Uncle' - Venerable Sōkō Rōshi was known as 'Father'), which was later bequeathed to the Zen Centre, eventually being inaugurated as Shobo-an, the main administrative location and training temple of the Zen Centre.
On July 22, 1984, she was ordained by Sōkō Morinaga
Soko Morinaga
was a Rinzai Zen roshi. He was head of Hanazono University and abbot of Daishu-in in Kyoto, one of the twenty-four sub-temples of the Daitoku-ji temple complex....
Rōshi, who had been head monk at Daitoku-ji
Daitoku-ji
is a Buddhist temple, one of fourteen autonomous branches of the Rinzai school of Japanese Zen. It is located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. The "mountain name" , who is known by the title Daitō Kokushi, or "National Teacher of the Great Lamp," that he was given by Emperor Go-Daigo...
during her time there. The ordination took place at Chithurst Forest Monastery at the invitation of the Abbot Ajahn Sumedho
Ajahn Sumedho
Luang Por Ajahn Sumedho is the senior Western representative of the Thai forest tradition of Theravada Buddhism. He was abbot of Amaravati Buddhist Monastery just north of London from its consecration in 1984 until his retirement in 2010...
, and the Sōkō Morinaga Rōshi gave her the name Myokyo-ni. Myokyo, meaning 'mirror of the subtle', had been the name the Rōshi had given her as a Zen
Zen
Zen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
student in Japan (ni meaning 'nun').
Ven.Myokyo-ni was the author of a number of books on Zen and Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
, including a translation of The Zen Teaching of Rinzai (Linji
Linji
Línjì Yìxuán was the founder of the Linji school of Chán Buddhism during Tang Dynasty China. Linji was born into a family named Xing in Caozhou , which he left at a young age to study Buddhism in many places....
).
From 2002 until her death in 2007, Ven. Myokyoni lived at Fairlight (Luton), one of the Zen Centre's two training temples, where she received students and gave regular teisho (Zen talks). Both temples continue to run under her trainees, providing meditation classes, holding regular sesshins and offering residential facilities for Zen Centre members. Fairlight is now run by Ven. Sogen, and Shobo-an in St John's Wood, London is run by Venerable Sochu
Venerable Sochu
Sochu is the Rinzai Zen Buddhist monk who leads Shobo-an, the Zen Centre's residential and lay training temple in north-west London. A second property in Luton, Bedfordshire, Fairlight Zen Buddhist Training Temple, is headed by Venerable Sogen.Sochu was born in Yorkshire and holds a degree in...
.
Ven. Myokyo-ni was given the posthumous title Daiyu Zenji. (Daiyu means 'Great Oak').
Translation and editing
- Wisdom of the Zen Masters (1976) (under her pre-ordination name Irmgard Schloegl)
- The Bull and his Herdsman (1989) by Daizokutsu R Otsu (from the German 'Der Ochs und Sein Hirte by Tsujumura and Buchner)
- The discourse on The Inexhaustible Lamp of the Zen School (1989)(also translated by Yoko Okuda)