His Zen studies began as a resident student at the New York Zendo ShoBo-ji (Rinzai-lineage, Soen Nakagawa) where he lived from 1970-1975. After relocating to San Francisco in 1976 he lived at SF Zen Center and TassajaraZenMountainCenter until 1983. Kotoku was ordained in 2004 by Akiba Roshi at his home Temple, Kojin-an in Oakland, California. In January 2012 Kotoku received shiho, or dharma transmission with Akiba Roshi following intensive priest training periods or Angos, hosted by the Japanese Soto-shu for western Zen Priests.