*** Sun, April 12th & 19th, 2026 Meditation Canceled. ***

Training the Mind.
Opening the Heart.

The purpose of Zen is to relieve suffering and confusion through direct, personal insight.

Integrating this insight into our daily lives brings psychological health, mental and emotional freedom, grounded joy, and deep compassion.

About ZenPractice
About

Zen Buddhism

Zen Buddhism, like all schools of Buddhism, concerns itself with the human condition. Its purpose is to directly relieve suffering, angst and confusion via clear insight and radical transformation.

This is not psychological transformation, existing in the realm of belief, personal story, or self-concept, but rather a transformation in the very functioning of mind and lived experience itself. Such insight, when properly integrated, will express in emotional and psychological health and maturity. The path and its specific practices, however, are not emotion-centric or psychologized.

Buddhism describes suffering as caused by confusion about the nature of the self. It maps out clearly both the nature of this confusion and the practice path to resolve it. You don’t need any prior knowledge of this before joining.

A defining feature of Zen is that it focuses from the very beginning on meditation practice and embodiment - you learn as you go. The purpose of practice is transformational insight, and Rinzai Zen, in particular, emphasizes clear and direct insight experience, termed kensho. Meditation practices will ease the mind, but this is secondary to experientially knowing what this mind actually is. Rinzai Zen, as with other types of Zen uses classical zazen meditation techniques, breathing practices, and focuses on embodiment. However, Rinzai Zen also uses the koan system (in the traditionally demanding way), and thus emphasizes working one-on-one with a teacher.

In addition to this, the community culture and teaching at Tomyoji value emotional maturity and integrity. We recognize that we all enter practice due to some kind of “need to know.” Feelings of angst, confusion, frustration, and separation are what cause us all to seek a form of practice in the beginning. This is natural! What is meant, then, is that in this kind of practice it is critical that no one is allowed to engage in spiritual bypassing, ego-aggrandizement, unclean boundaries, or passive-aggressive behavior. This holds for the teacher, as well as the student.

How We PracticeOur Community
Practice

Zen at Tōmyoji

Experiencing Zen meditation practice in a supporting community is invaluable.

You will receive all of the necessary instruction, including a thorough explanation of how the practice actually works. You will have the opportunity to ask questions directly to the teacher or senior students. But more than that, you will have the chance to experience what a meditation hall actually feels like - the tangible energetic support of a community engaged in the same practice. With consistent practice, many people experience a meaningful reduction in anxiety and confusion, as well as an improvement in concentration, clarity, and mental well being.

If this community resonates with you, and you find value in it, a cost-effective membership through Patreon gives access to all in-person meditation sessions, as well as a growing library of teaching materials. You will also have the ability to work one-on-one with the teacher, receiving personalized instruction. This is well-suited to those with more existential questions and experiences, and those who wish to train more intensely within the Rinzai Zen training model. Working with a teacher gives one the rare opportunity to, given enough time and effort, work through the complete Rinzai training curriculum.

Something that makes Tōmyōji unique is that our teacher, Daiho Roshi, has specialized training in Eastern energetic systems, including Qi Gong, Acupuncture, Classical Chinese Herbalism, Jin Shin Jyutsu, Taoist Healing Sounds, Chinese Astrology, and Ashtanga Yoga. Daiho Roshi has a firm understanding of Buddhist psychology, in particular, working with the emotional body. All of these skills are brought into this Zen teaching.

We sit together twice a week at the Quarry Arts Building in Madison, WI.
‍
Sunday Mornings: 10:30 am ~ 12:00 pm
Wednesday Evenings: 7:00 pm ~ 8:00 pm
** Please arrive 10 minutes early. **
‍‍
No prior experience is required. All instruction is provided.

Drop-in:
Please donate what you can. Even $10 helps to cover our costs. 


Monthly Membership via Patreon:  
Includes private one-on-one instruction and access to teaching materials.

Practice Schedule | Watch Intro Videos

CommunityTeacher
Resources

Intro to Zen Practice

Part 1 | Why is there Zen?
Part 2 | How Does Zen Work?
Part 3 | How Do You Actually Practice Zen?
Community

Practicing Together

Tōmyōji offers practical guidance rooted in 2,500 years of experience. Guided by an experienced teacher, we are a supportive community committed to deep personal inquiry in a culture of mutual respect.

TeacherCalendar

Our members are a blend of beginners and long-time practitioners, students and professionals, parents and young adults, men and women, casual meditators and former monks. Everyone benefits from everyone else’s experience, and we appreciate yours.

We have a guiding teacher who is able to meet the individual needs of newcomers and students, provide expert instruction, work one-on-one, provide inspiration and example, and set the tone of energy, clarity and wisdom. Organizationally, Tōmyōji is community-run. In matters of practice and instruction, the guiding teacher is responsible for setting standards, maintaining boundaries, and guiding training.

Teacher

Daiho Wagner Roshi

Daiho took Jukai (lay vows) in 1998 under Junpo Denis Kelly Roshi. He later took Tokudo (monastic ordination) under Junpo Roshi in 2003, and began monastic residence and koan training with Eido Roshi at Dai Bosatsu. From 2005 through 2007, he continued monastic and koan training under Tenshin Charles Fletcher Roshi at Yokoji. Daiho continued koan training in 2014 with Meido Moore Roshi. He completed formal koan training and received inka (dharma transmission) from Meido Moore Roshi in November 2023. Daiho subsequently left the Korinji organization due to ethical concerns and founded Tōmyōji as an independent temple in 2024.

CalendarJoin Us

*** Sun, April 12th & 19th, 2026 Meditation Canceled. ***

Calendar

Schedule

Zen Meditation Practice

When

*** Canceled: Sun, Apr 12 & 19, 2026 ***

Sunday Mornings:
10:30 am ~ 12:00 pm

Wednesday Evenings:
7:00 pm ~ 8:15 pm

** Please arrive 10 minutes early. **

Where

Quarry Arts Building

‍715 Hill St Ste 170, Madison, WI 53705

Pricing

Drop-in:
Please donate what you can. Even $10 helps to cover our costs. 

Monthly Membership via Patreon:  
Includes private one-on-one instruction and access to teaching materials.

Donation is always welcomed.

Drop-in sittings are introductory. Ongoing trainings require a Patreon membership. Membership is affordably priced and gives you access to regularly published content, plus the opportunity to work directly with a teacher.

Please arrive 10 minutes early and wear dark-toned clothing that is loose-fitting and comfortable. Please note there are no shorts or midriff shirts allowed in the meditation hall. Cushions are provided, however, you may bring your own if you would like to.

For those starting this practice or interested in finding out more about Zen at Tōmyōji, please watch the introductory videos.

Zen Book Club

When

*** Canceled: Sun, Apr 12 & 19, 2026 ***

Last Tuesday of the Month
6:30 pm ~ 8:00 pm

Where

Garden Wall Books

101 N Main St, Verona, WI 53593

Pricing

FREE for all

Join us for a monthly gathering where we explore the teachings, stories, and spirit of Zen through thoughtful reading and open conversation. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or simply curious about Zen, all are welcome! Each month, we will read a different title, from classic texts to contemporary insights, and then meet to share reflections in a friendly, relaxed setting. This event is lead by Daigyo, our senior student.

Membership

Join & Support

Membership at Tōmyōji allows you to work and meet directly with the teacher and work one-on-one in private meetings. It also gives you access to a growing library of instructional and practice materials on Patreon. Our membership options are very accessibly priced to allow meaningful instruction and participation that also respects the time and effort of the teacher and community.

Tōmyōji functions entirely on membership and donation support. Membership allows us to pay for our space usage, cover admin costs, and cover scholarship costs of those who cannot afford a membership but are committed to practicing and changing their lives. Teaching and leading is a large expenditure of unpaid time and energy - no one, including the teacher, receives meaningful compensation. Donation is always welcomed.

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© Copyright 2026, Tōmyōji Zen Temple