Guiding Teacher
Jokai Blackwell Roshi relocated to California from the UK in 2000 to study with Tenshin Fletcher Roshi at Yokoji Zen Mountain Center. After completing formal study, encompassing over a decade of residential training, he received Dharma Transmission in the White Plum Lineage of Zen in 2014. As a newly minted teacher, Jokai felt moved to bring the heart of realization into the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Having previously visited as a guest teacher on several occasions, he accepted the role of Guiding Teacher at Long Beach Meditation in the summer of 2018. He received Inka, the final seal of certification in Zen, in 2022. Jokai emphasizes the direct experience of awakening using contemporary language and time-honored methods. He continues to live, work, and teach in Southern California.