ZEN & POLITICS
The Way of Public Leadership
Zen & Politics is a 6-week seminar to create home grown, true leaders who can help set the course for Hawaiʻi and the rest of the world. Rooted in the body and featuring some of Hawaiʻi’s foremost leaders as guest speakers, this training explores Zen principles and philosophy through the martial and fine arts, creating a practical framework for developing public leadership. Participation is by invitation only.
Daihonzan Chozen-ji
There’s a reason why many of Hawaiʻi’s leaders have found themselves at Chozen-ji at some point. The training methods at the Zen Dojo teach the kind of battle-tested creativity that courageous leaders need.
This training will combine key concepts from Zen with experiential training, such as:
Physical leadership through zazen (seated meditation)
Cultivating an immovable mind through Kendo (Way of the Sword), Hitsuzendo (Way of the Brush) and Chado (Way of Tea)
Participation is invitation-only, and interested candidates must be recommended by a Zen & Politics alum or one of the program organizers. An essential component of Zen & Politics is to identify and recruit participants who are committed to utilizing what they learn in the program to advance Hawai`i’s and our nation’s public interest. Participants must exhibit a strong desire to create social and political change and, by participating in Zen & Politics, bear a responsibility to actively use the lessons learned and skills developed to further the public good.
Participants must attend the Opening and Closing Residential Weekends are mandatory, and may miss no more than one of the Thursday night sessions.
For information and application, please contact training@chozen-ji.org.
Curriculum & Speakers
Part I: Opening Residential Weekend (Friday, May 16 to Sunday, May 18, 2025)
Part II: Lessons in Leadership (Thursday evenings May 22-June 12, 2025 )
Part III: Closing Residential Weekend (Friday, June 20 to Sunday, June 22, 2025)
Past speakers have included:
U.S. Senator Brian Schatz
U.S. Representative Jill Tokuda
Former Hawaiʻi Governor John Waiheʻe
Former Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell
Speaker of Hawaiʻi State House Emeritus Calvin Say
Judge Karen Nakasone, Hawaiʻi Intermediate Court of Appeals
Tradewind Group Chair Colbert Matsumoto
Former Tradewind Group President and Former State of Hawaiʻi Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism Director Richard Lim
Houselessness advocates Twinkle Borge and James Pakele
Honolulu City Councilmember Andria Tupola
Former Hawaiʻi State Attorney General David Louie
Office of Hawaiian Affairs Board Chair Kaialiʻi Kahele