Until his adolescence, Kenshin learned Zen from his master Koiku TENSHITSU at Rinsen-ji Temple (Joetsu City) which was an ancient temple of Soto school of Buddhism, and when he went to Kyoto, he practiced Zen meditation under Soku of Daitoku-ji Temple of Rinzai sect and was granted a posthumous Buddhist name of 'Soshin.'
青年期までは曹洞宗の古刹、林泉寺(上越市)で師の天室光育から禅を学び、上洛時には臨済宗大徳寺の宗九のもとに参禅し「宗心」という戒名を受けた。