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Zen and the Roman Emperor
January 14 @ 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm CST
Zen and the Roman Emperor:
Marcus Aurelius, Journaling, and Stoicism for the Zen Practitioner
Online. Alternating Wednesdays from January 14 – March 25, 2026 (1/14, 1/28, 2/4*, 2/25, 3/11, 3/25) from 6:30-8p CT.
This winter you are invited to join the inaugural offering for the Men’s Study Group at Hokyoji. Over the course of 3 months, we will read Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations and look at the Stoicism, Zen, and their intersection, through various journaling practices (no, not “dear diary!”).
Marcus Aurelius was one of the Five Good Emperors (out of 82 and a 500 year span). He as an avowed Stoic, a school of philosophy founded by Zeno of Citium in 300 BCE. It had counted everyone from slaves to emperors amongst its contributors. Stoicism had a profound influence on St. Augustine and therefore Christianity.
Zen has its roots in China, with the arrival of Bodhidharma (d. 530 CE) from India during the Northern & Southern Dynasties period. It further developed throughout the Sui & Tang Dynasties, the Five Dynasties Period, and reached its zenith during the Song Dynasty. Dogen Zenji (1200-1253 CE) brought Chan to Japan from Song China in 1228 founded the Soto School of Zen Buddhism.
At first blush, it doesn’t seem like these two traditions would have anything in common but over the course of the study group we hope to demonstrate that they do and that Stoicism can help Zen practitioners and Zen can help Stoics.
Main text – Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, translated by Gregory Hays, Forward by Ryan Holiday. You need not purchase the book through Amazon. You will also need a notebook. It can be as nice as you like but not so nice you don’t want to write in it…
The group will be led by Rev. Jushin Stephyn Butcher, Associate Teacher. Questions? reach out to Jushin through the contact page.
