Colombia Soto Zen Community's lineage
 

Since the origins of Buddhism until our days, the teachings have been transmitted in a direct way from teacher to disciple, form heart to heart.

In order to assure the continuity of a pure transmission it is necessary to keep a direct link with a live teacher.
     
   
           
 

Kodo Sawaki Roshi

   He was born near Ise Shrine in 1880. At the age of 5 his mother died and when he was 8 he lost his father. He was adopted by a weak man who was a gambler. When he was 16, he traveled to Eiheiji, ready to become a zen monk but he was rejected. He decided to go to kyushu and at the age of 18 he was ordained by Sawada Koho Osho. During the Russo-Japanese war he was called into combat and was badly wounded. He was assumed death. After 5 years of interruption he moved to Horyuji in Nara where he studied deeply the Yogachara School. Before finishing his studies he left the temple and devoted himself to zazen practice all alone at Jofukuji, an old ruined temple. He had an extremely rigorous practice. Kodo Sawaki ocassionally visited Oka Sotan Roshi, abbot of Daijiji for the next six years. Oka Sotan Roshi had a deep knowledge in Dogen's writings. In 1935, Master Omori Zenkai, president of Komazawa University invited Kodo Sawaki to teach at the university and at same time he was appointed Godo at Sojiji. Sawaki Roshi never had a permanent place of practice, and frequently performed sesshins at different places around Japan. Because of his resistance to establish himself in a temple, he was known as Homeless Kodo. The fourth abbot of Antaiji was Eto Sokuo a Sotoshu priest and an eminent scholar. He was the nominal abbot even though he never lived at Antaiji and asked Sawaki Roshi to be his successor. He accepted and became the fifth abbot of this temple even though he never lived there. He continued travelling and doing sesshin at Antaiji. At the age of 84 he felt sick and wasn't able to travel any more, he retired to Antaiji. He died two years later, on December 21st, 1965.