Seattle Koyasan

In-person only

4:40 PM Pacific to 5:40 PM on 1st - 4th Wednesdays

At Seattle Koyasan Dojo

Register

Pilates emphasizes attentive, intentional movement, a focus that parallels the Buddhist concepts of 調身・調息・調心: aligning the body, settling the breath, and steadying the mind.

Rooted in Pilates principles and supported by functional mat work, this all‑levels class builds core strength through body awareness, control, and mindful movement.

All class fees are donated 100% to Seattle Koyasan, offering a meaningful way to begin 2026 — strengthening your body while supporting the temple at the same time!

This is an in-person class held at the temple's dojo. Participants are encouraged to bring their own yoga mat; a limited number will be available to borrow.

Instructor: Ritsu Itoi

Ritsu is a Seattle‑based Pilates instructor integrating traditional movement training with contemplative practice. Her teaching highlights body awareness, functional strength, and the steadying presence of mindful attention.

2026 星祭 Hoshi Matsuri / Star Enshrining Prayer

In-person and online

12 PM Noon, Pacific, Sunday, Feb. 15th

At the Seattle Koyasan Buddhist Temple and online

Based upon the movements of the Sun and the stars, we have established a year to be 365 days, a week to be seven days, a day to be twenty-four hours. Our ages and customs of daily living are dependent on these cycles. The phases of the moon are used to create the lunar calendar and the movement of the Sun determines our present calendar. The heavenly bodies are inseparably tied with our lives.

Ancient astrology has determined the Seven Stars (Shichiyo) and Nine Stars (Kyusei) and the 28 constellations (Nijuhachi Shukusei). Shingon Esoteric Buddhism has integrated the dynamics of these heavenly bodies into the ritual called Hoshi Matsuri: “hoshi” meaning stars and “matsuri” meaning to enshrinePlease look up your guiding star of this year in this chart, and apply for the special amulet (Ofuda). The amulet will be empowered through the ritual. Please complete the application by the end of SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7th so we can prepare your own special amulets in time. Suggested Donation: $20 per Ofuda. 

Please email us at contact@seattlekoyasan.com or call us at 206-325-8811 if you have any questions!

Online only

Deity: Monju Bosatsu / 文殊菩薩

“The sharp sword of Monju cuts off delusions”

文殊ノ利剣ハ諸戯ヲ断ツ

Rescue yourself out of the kaleidoscopic jungle of relativity.

Shingon （真言）literally means “True Words” that means mantra. The core practice of Shingon Esoteric Buddhism is to chant mantras. Kobo Daishi wrote, “Mantra is beyond your thoughts. If you appreciate and chant it,  the stubbornly stained ignorance can be removed” in Hannya Shingyo Hiken (the Secret Key to the Heart Sutra). 

We will launch the Mantra Transmission Webinar on the monthly basis. The purpose is:

To transmit each mantra to our practitioners in a respectful manner to our lineage continuing more than 1200 years

To illustrate the visualization while chanting mantra

To introduce the characteristic of a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, or a Myoo of the month

To practice chanting the mantra of the month under the guidance of Head Priest 

Chanting mantra is a way to transform yourself to be someone like a Buddha, a Bodhisattva, or a Myoo in your heart. Why do we have so many deities in the pantheon of Shingon Vajrayana? Because one of them can be the corridor for you to be reunited with Dainichi Nyorai. Why don’t you go out on a journey to encounter your “spiritual best friend” in mandala🙏

River of Dharma: The Eight Patriarchs of the Shingon Tradition / 真言伝持の八祖

Online only

11 AM Pacific, Sat. Feb. 21

The teachings of Shingon Buddhism that we practice today have been carried to us in the hearts of believers for centuries — translators, pilgrims, mothers, fathers, laypeople, and monastics. In this month's academic webinar we will meet the Eight Patriarchs (hasso 八祖) of Shingon Buddhism.

We Vajrayana Buddhists shouldn't be someone only believing in Vajrayana. We should have eyes to observe what Vajrayana is from the outside. My scholastic mentor, the 412th His Holiness of Koyasan, Yukei Matsunaga Geika（松長有慶猊下）, often said that there are lots of followers of Shingon Buddhism who stop thinking when they hear the name of Kobo Daishi, but they shouldn't. What is Shingon Vajrayana’s difference from Mahayana Buddhism and the sameness? What in Vajrayana is aligned with the Early Buddhism and what’s beyond? We should be ready to answer to these questions. This webinar will give you the wholistic view to re-appreciate what you practice. 

6 PM on Mondays

1 PM and 6 PM on Wednesdays

9 AM on Saturdays

Beginning Feb. 1, the following changes have taken effect for our meditation practices:

1. All participants are asked to have attended 10 Sunday Services prior to their first meditation session.

 2. Participation fee for non-members is $10 per session.

Annual members will continue to have access to meditations for free, or on a donation basis. Our Sunday Services will remain open and accessible to the public at no cost.

For details about the changes and the reason behind them, please read the related article on the Jan-Feb newsletter or by clicking the link below.