月山館

The Gassankan is a training activity in the Pacific Northwest focused on classical internal martial arts and associated movement and mindfulness practices.

It was after visiting Gassan Dai-jinja and Haguro Shugen Honshu Kotaku-ji Shozen-in in 2005 that I made the decision to focus my training efforts exclusively on classical and traditional martial arts; this is why I chose the name Gassankan.

For bodhisattvas who see selflessness, all phenomena - what is cut, the cutter, the time of the cutting, the method of cutting, and so on - are seen to be like a reflection. Therefore they have patience.

    the Karmapa's Middle Way

Visiting the root temple of Honzan-ha Shugendō in 2024, I renewed my dedication to cultivating mindfulness and awareness through the practice of shugyō ( 修行 ). While as a school, Gassankan translates as "Moon Mountain Hall", I also sometimes use the character 勘 (perception, intuition) for "kan". Then Gassankan written as 月山勘 is meant to refer to the perception or intuition we obtain from a practice aligned with nature.

Mark Raugas

Seattle, WA