About Us
“What you call the Buddha, that is your heart in its purity. What you call the Dharma, that is your heart in its radiance. What you call the Way, that is when in sheer light there is nowhere any obstruction. The three are one; but they are empty names and have no real existence. When you truly travel the Way, you keep them ever present in your heart.”
–Master Linji from the “Linji Lu”
History of CloudWater Zendo
Fulfilling a Dream
CloudWater Zendo began with a dream to bring authentic Zen and related practices to people on Cleveland’s west side. This dream originated in the mind of Shaku Shu Ho, a senior student of Rev. Koshin Ogui of the Cleveland Buddhist Temple, in 1990. Having received permission to teach by Rev. Ogui, Shaku Shu Ho founded a Zen meditation group at a United Methodist church in Lakewood, a near-west suburb of Cleveland. After several years, Shaku Shu Ho decided to take the next step: the formation of a small Zen temple and meditation center named CloudWater Zendo.
Initial Efforts
In 1994, CloudWater Zendo opened on the west side of Cleveland with Shaku Shu Ho as Resident Instructor. The space which was rented for the purpose of Zen meditation was modest, to say the least. However, response to the new center was favorable enough that in 1995 the Zendo left its first humble home to take up residence in Fairview Park, a nearby Cleveland suburb.
Fairview Park
1995 through 2000 were years of continued growth and maturity for CloudWater Zendo. The new, slightly larger facility was conducive to regular group meditative practice, lectures, plus Tai Chi and Reiki classes. It was during this period that the Zendo’s first senior students were trained and subsequently ordained as Shramaneras or Novice Monks.
The Fairview Park years also witnessed the creation of the original CloudWater Zendo website, the acquisition of the Great Buddha which currently resides in the Recitation Hall, the first offsite Winter Retreat, the Zendo’s Prison Outreach Program, and the creation of affiliated Sanghas in northeast Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The first Animal Release Service (now called the Animal Memorial Service and Blessing) was also held.
1998 was a significant year for Shaku Shu Ho. In January he was ordained as a Buddhist Sensei (teacher) by Rev. Ogui with whom he had studied for 12 years, and in May he was ordained as a Bhiksu (fully ordained monk) by Venerable Shih Shenlung of the Dragon Flower Chan Temple, with whom he had studied for 8 years. Shaku Shu Ho took the Chinese version of his original Dharma name, Shih Yingfa (Dharma Eagle), and was named Abbot of CloudWater Zendo. The following year he was named Spiritual Director of the Dragon Flower Chan Temple by Venerable Shenlung. The Zendo, meanwhile, shifted its meditative emphasis from Japanese-influenced Zen to Chan, the tradition from which Zen derives.
Back to Cleveland
In 2000 CloudWater Zendo announced that it was moving back to the west side of Cleveland, to a site less than 2 miles from its original home. The new facility was three times larger than the Fairview Park Zendo, opening up many more options for practice and study. Lectures and classes were expanded, and the Five Elements School of Meditative Pure Land Buddhism was formed. A greater emphasis was placed on Internal Arts practice as well. The new Social Hall facilitated multi-week classes such as the twice-yearly, 8-week Basics of Buddhism class as well as the annual Lunar New Year Celebration. The Zendo also hosted a calligraphy workshop with world-renowned calligrapher Master Kim Tae-Jung, as well as an 18.5-mile memorial walk on the 1-year anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
A New Urban Zendo
In 2024, CloudWater Zendo moved to Cleveland’s Asiatown section. This centralized location allows the Zendo to make practice and teaching available to a wider local audience. As the Zendo continues to evolve, we will remain attentive to the needs of the community at large. All are welcome to visit CloudWater Zendo and to explore the various facets of Zen, Pure Land and general Buddhist teachings.