About Hokai
Born in 1968, Hokai Diego Sobol began spiritual work while a teenager, and never ceased probing deeper and further. After 10 years of studying Buddhist thought and practicing martial arts, while broadly learning from sources Eastern and Western, mainstream and fringe, he became a practitioner and eventually instructor (Jap. Koshi) in the Shingon esoteric tradition of Japanese Vajrayana, under the private tutelage of the Acharya, Venerable Jomyo Tanaka. Areas of special interest: reformulation of deep principles and esoteric practices, reformation of the spiritual organizational paradigm, reclaiming the ideal of sacred apprenticeship, integral theory and applications, semantics, symbolism, and semiotics.
„My purpose is to share and facilitate that which I have found to be most sobering, redeeming, inspiring and sublime, but also to recognize and honor new modes in the unfolding of consciousness. Benefitting the emergent awareness in individuals and collectives is my core intent. Parts of such activity are public, while significant aspects are private. I readily accomodate to the shifting needs and circumstances, as long as it enables me to pursue the fundamental orientation.“ Hokai Sobol
Presently Hokai is offering a regular weekly meditation class at the Mandala Society center in Rijeka, Croatia, teaching an 8-month course based on Ken McLeod’s “Wake Up to Your Life,” doing preliminary work for an upcoming book of ‘deep Dharma for actual people,’ and is also available for private consultation and mentoring (to ask for an introductory free 20-minute consultation, use the contact page).
Here’s what others have kindly offered -
„Hokai Diego Sobol is an authentic scholar/practitioner — one who not only understands radical ancient Dharma, but who has practiced the way (for decades) and experienced illumination thereby. He’s also a well-read and insightful contributor to contemporary Integral spiritual culture, where he brings a unique sensibility — at once radical, sardonic, penetrating, and passionately committed to the cultural influence of the radiant consciousness that transcends the fascinations of the mind.“
– Terry Patten, Integral teacher, thinker, leadership coach, and writer, co-author with philosopher Ken Wilber of „Integral Life Practice – A 21st-Century Blueprint for Physical Health, Emotional Balance, Mental Clarity, and Spiritual Awakening“
“For many years, Hokai has been the senior European student and a very active instructor for our teacher, the Acharya Jomyo Tanaka. Hokai radiates a magnetic personal energy, contagious good humor as well as possessing a well honed intellect. His understanding of the Shingon tradition, Buddhism in general and his explorations of Integral thinking gives him a unique perspective on current trends and challenges in contemporary spirituality. Additionally, Hokai’s solid grounding in Shingon’s fundamental meditative disciplines makes him an invaluable resource for any student looking to explore this rare and complex esoteric tradition. Hokai is a real gem - not many spiritual friends possess the strength, knowledge and qualities he has in ample quantity. Check him out if you get the chance…”
- J. F. Kane, Senior North American student and principal instructor for the Acharya, Jomyo Tanaka, mandalavermont.org
„I met Hokai many years ago in NYC while we both were on a seven day Ch’an retreat. We struck it off quickly after the retreat and stayed in contact as good friends in the Dharma and as Buddhist practitioners. Hokai is an independent-minded and very bright person who is also articulate when expressing his thoughts and experiences pertaining to Buddhism. He has been a serious practitioner from before I met him. I may not always agree with everything he says, but he makes me think, clarify and evaluate my own position carefully. I view that is a gift. Besides that, I just like the bloke!“
- Stuart Lachs, Ch’an veteran
“My friend Hokai is a rare and clear Dharma vessel. The ineffable mystery and humor that has ‘winked’ us awake through the ages and lineages is unmistakably alive and well in his presence. Few people carry such depth with such lightness and ease. He is a genuine Sukha-Nova!”
- Stuart Davis, writer-director-actor-comedian-songwriter
„Equal parts meditation master, learned scholar, and big-hearted human being, Hokai Diego Sobol is one of my favorite Buddhist commentators. When Hokai talks, people listen.“
- Kenneth Folk, dharma teacher
„Hokai possesses an extremely rare mix of talents and abilities, being a very broadly read scholar, brilliant intellectual, linguist and theoretician as well as an unusually talented and accomplished Vajrayana practitioner in the Shingon tradition. He is at once an established traditionalist and also a strong voice for modernization and reform, and, given his extraordinary skills and perspectives, is in the very small group of people in the world who are in a position to really bridge the gap between authentic ancient teachings and the paradigms and needs of people living today. He is a man of honor whose tireless work to bring time-tested wisdom and meditation technology and spiritual practice to his home country of Croatia and to dedicated practitioners throughout the world makes him a beacon of light in a world that can often be muddled in dogma and confusion. Beyond even these remarkable and ongoing contributions to the living dharma of today, I believe there is yet even more amazing practical dharma synthesis yet to come from Hokai.“
- Daniel M. Ingram, author of „Mastering the Core Teachings of the Buddha“
“Hokai Sobol is one of the deepest and coolest Buddhist teachers I know. His goal to make Vajrayana practice contemporary and more widely accessible, without watering the tradition down, is one that I think few people could pull off. Good thing for us, he’s probably among them. “
– Vince Horn of Buddhist Geeks
“I’ve had the honor and joy of Hokai’s friendship for over 3 years now, as well as working with him in multiple dimensions of life, and I constantly experience him as one of the most brilliant, deep, humorous, and truly alive persons I know. In every way imaginable, I consider him a mentor and a role model, and I feel immense gratitude for having him in my life. I knew Hokai only through online interaction and when I met him in person, I was so pleasantly surprised to see how animated, dynamic, and honestly, bit a crazy he is. How utterly refreshing and invigorating to be in the presence of someone who is steeped in that which is beyond this world and who is also truly living with all of his being in this world. I thought to myself, this is someone I need to hang around! And I always tell people who haven’t met him, ‘you ain’t seen nothing yet, you have to meet Hokai’! And I’ve found people have the same experience as I have had.
As a spiritual teacher and mentor, Hokai has been of invaluable help to me, for which I’m so very grateful. I have been able to discuss and receive guidance from him both in person and remotely through Skype conversations. Every time we speak Hokai has an amazing and beautiful ability to listen deeply, to enter into my experience, to explore my path with me, and every time I feel tremendous hope and encouragement, in addition to clarity that helps me guide myself. Hokai is both the real deal as a practitioner and a teacher with rare abilities to guide other practitioners.
Finally, I had another amazing experience with Hokai, one that speaks to his multiple talents (and if you get to know him, you won’t believe how many things he’s good at). In fall of 2009 I shot my first short film, one that explored the dark night of the soul, and I knew that I wanted Hokai to be one of the main stars. I had no doubt that he would be able to embody the character I had created, and in fact, I created it with him in mind. Sure enough, Hokai was brilliant and performed even better than I could have dreamed of. The result was that the film touched so many people, and won two awards. Shooting that film will be a memory that will always be with me and I have Hokai to thank for that.”
- Ryan Oelke, writer, poet, director, entrepreneur
„Diego doesn’t waver in ever pushing onward yet, strangely enough, he’s not stubborn. His amazingly tireless passion about all matters of Spirit endowed him with another gift: a capacity for arousing fire in the hearts that fell short of hope, bringing clarity to minds lost in confusion, or lifting the spirits in the times of ardour and darkness. Though his demeanour is far from being sweet, he never abandons decency and will share his knowledge and experience and answer any question, up to the point of somewhat annoyingly resembling Deep Thought from Hitchhikers’ Guide Through the Universe. He’s an excellent listener if you really have something to say. He likes to live in mind, body, heart and other parts of being, simultaneously. He has great sense of humour, is a fine cook, and is an absolutely wonderful companion.”
– Majda Juric, translator, editor, Hokai’s wife
