Our Story

Holds The Moon: Aquatic Healing and Zen Meditation (“HTM,” previously known as 3 Sisters Kuanyin Temple of Aquatic Wellness), was created in July 2019 here in Hučyun, occupied unceded Lisjan Ohlone territory, otherwise known as East Oakland. HTM is in the family of contemporary Zen (Chinese: “Ch’an”) Buddhism through founder Kawai (James) Jishin Anthony’s 44 years of Zen koan meditation practice with Robert Aitken Roshi in Honolulu (Diamond Sangha), and with John Tarrant Roshi and Steven Grant Roshi in the SF Bay Area (Pacific Zen Institute). Through Kawai as an ordained Zen Priest (“Sensei”) HTM offers regular meditation instruction and aquatic healing practices. 

Part of why HTM was created is to promote the Triad Round, a non-professional, peer-to-peer practice of sharing simple warm water bodywork with friends and family, inspired by Harold Dull, the founder of Watsu (the original aquatic bodywork form he created at Harbin Hot Springs in 1980). Kawai designed the HTM warm pool with Harold in Spring 2019, and brought it to temperature in July, the same month that Harold died. Seh-reum Tom joined HTM in 2023 as co-steward in developing programming and protocols to make this work more accessible to historically marginalized communities and shaping a culture of care and consent in aquatic work. Holds The Moon is a space for sharing the Buddha dharma, particularly dedicated to Quan Yin, the Bodhisattva of Compassion & Healing.