 She joined a small sitting group that had been founded in 1972 by some Syracuse University graduate students and later became the group's leader.In 1984 Roko invited Maurine Stuart Roshi to lead the first sesshin and in 1985 Maurine ordained her as a Zen priest.After Maurine's death in 1990 Roko resumed her studies at Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji.