At age 16, Muhō was introduced to zazen by one of his high school teachers and soon had the wish to become a Zen monk.

To prepare for his stay in Japan, he studied Japanese at the Free University of Berlin, along with philosophy and physics.

Three years later, after graduating from university, Muhō was ordained as a Sōtō Zen monk under the abbot Miyaura Shinyu Rōshi.

After obtaining the transmission of dharma (shihō) from his teacher Miyaura Rōshi, Muhō decided to live as a homeless monk in a park in central Osaka, where he led a zazen group in 2001.

Six months later, in February 2002, he learned of the sudden death of his teacher and was called back to Antai-ji.