Neolke Muho

Abott of Antaiji Temple

He was born in 1968 in Berlin and grew up in Western Germany. At age 16, he was introduced to zazen by one of his high school teachers and soon had the wish to become a Zen monk. During his studies, he spent one year at Kyōto University and learned about Antaiji for the first time. Three years later, after graduating from university, Muhō ordained as a monk under the abbot Miyaura Shinyū Rōshi. After obtaining the transmission of dharma (shihō) from his teacher Miyaura Rōshi he decided to live as a homeless monk in a park in central Ōsaka, where he led a zazen group. After six months though, in February of 2002, he learned of the sudden death of his teacher and was called back to Antaiji. He succeeded his teacher as the ninth abbot in the spring of that year.