Dokusan: The Private Meeting with a Zen Master In Zen practice, dokusan interview is a private encounter between a student and a Zen master. During this interview, the student has the opportunity to present their questions, doubts, or experiences directly to the master. This face-to-face interaction is a fundamental part of Zen practice, providing the…
Year-End Meditation Retreat The year-end meditation one day retreat is a practice that allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, cultivate inner peace, and prepare for the new year with a clear mind. Meditating at the Temple At the Zen temple on Gran Vía, we will find the tranquility and guidance needed…
It is an ancient tradition in Zen Buddhist temples to welcome the New Year with the celebration of the 108 bell tolls year-end ceremony. Why 108 bell tolls at year-end? The number 108 is considered sacred in Buddhism, representing totality and the completeness of the Universe. Among other uses, there are 108 beads in a…
What does Bodhicitta or Bodaishin mean? Bodaishin (Japanese) or Bodhicitta (Sanskrit) is a fundamental concept in Zen Buddhism and the entire Mahayana tradition. Bodhicitta means an aspiration to awakening, often translated as the “spirit of awakening” or the “mind of awakening.” Bodhicitta or Bodaishin is an altruistic aspiration or mental attitude that seeks awakening not…
Genjokoan: A Zen Meditation Workshop The Genjokoan is a text written by the Japanese Zen master Eihei Dōgen, who in the 13th century introduced the Sōtō Zen school of Buddhism in Japan. Genjokoan can be translated as “Realization of the Present Moment” or “Awakening with the Whole Universe.” Shobogenzo The Genjokoan is a chapter from…
Mindfulness Karma is a module of the Zen Mindfulness course at the Zen Kannon Center, designed to teach the application of mindfulness to actions and their consequences. Psychological distress and suffering are often caused by our own thoughts, words, or actions in the past. Likewise, our thoughts, words, and actions in the present will shape…
Big Samu zen workshop. Sign up using the form. Samu Zen Samu in Zen refers to voluntary work performed as part of the practice at a Zen center. The word “samu” comes from Japanese and means work carried out with mindfulness, serving as a form of moving meditation. Samu is an essential part of Zen…
Satipatthana: Sati – Attention, Patthana – The Four Foundations of Mindfulness The Four Foundations of Attention is the Buddha’s teaching recorded in the Satipatthana, a set of instructions aimed at activating the mind’s mode of full awareness, or mindfulness, as it is known today. This means living in the present moment, without being distracted by…
The Way of the Bodhisattva The Way of the Bodhisattva is an important concept in Zen Buddhism, arising from the Mahayana tradition. A bodhisattva is someone who aspires to enlightenment in order to help all living beings free themselves from suffering. There are several aspects to be developed in order to follow this path. The…
The Fox in Zen Stories To understand the koan of the fox, it is helpful to begin with this story. Once, while a Zen master was walking through the forest, he encountered a wild fox. The fox begged him to accept her into his community so that she could become a nun and study the…
