The Old Buddha, Kozan Kato

Kozan Kato was a Zen-master who trained in one of the best known Zen monasteries in Japan. He raised a family and taught monks who sought him out in his small temple outside Tokyo. Though he was content to raise a family and grow a small vegetable garden, the word got out that this farmer monk was hiding away in his small temple outside of Tokyo. Monks who were looking for a teacher whose approach to Zen resembled that of the ancient Zen-masters, made their way to his temple and asked to be allowed to study with him. Like his friend Kodo Sawaki Roshi, he lived his life with no interest in name or fame.
Kozan's warm personality, infectious smile and love of the practice of Zen made people who had contact with him want to try to practice Zen. His name spread throughout Japan despite his attempt to remain a simple Zen monk hiding away in a poor temple in the mountains outside of Tokyo.