Amaterasu Omikami Shrine Renewal

Please note that the date of the Amaterasu Omikami Shrine Renewal is now one day earlier than announced previously.

The Buddhist teachings came to Japan more than 2,000 years ago, and since then have coexisted with Shinto. More a way of life than a religion, Shinto is usually translated as “the way of the kami.” Kami is the energy that evokes a sense of wonder and awe in the human heart. Mountains, lakes and even people can have the quality of kami. Zen master Kobun Chino Roshi translated Amaterasu to mean “brilliant rays of light shining in all directions,” and Omi as “great” or “ultimate.” The Shinto path connects people with the energy of kami through appreciation of the simple pleasures of life and nature.

Join us for our annual kami renewal when Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche and Shinto priest Reverend Koichi Barrish open the shrine to gather and reinvoke the energy of Amaterasu Omikami, the principal deity of Shinto. This year the renewal is also the culmination of a special program from July 24 to 27 which explores the living history and practices of Shinto. For information on that program please go to Kami-no-Michi—The Way of the Kami: An Introduction to Shinto Spirituality with Reverend Koichi Barrish.

Extend Your Stay. We are offering a 25% housing discount for additional nights. Come early and relax before your program starts or stay an extra day or more after this program to savor your retreat experience.

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