Urban Retreat in June in Barcelona – Zen Meditation, Zazen The Zen Kannon Center of Barcelona invites you to participate in a new urban Zen meditation retreat, zazenkai, taking place on June 12nd and 13rd. This is an opportunity to deepen your Zen practice without leaving the city. We offer a space of silence and…
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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…
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The Gakudō Yōjinshū, or Ten Foundations of Zen, is a work written by Eihei Dōgen, a 13th-century Japanese Zen master and founder of the Sōtō Zen school in Japan. This text is primarily addressed to monks and Zen practitioners and offers guidance on how to live a life of proper Zen practice. Foundations of Dōgen’s…
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Kannon (kanzeon), known as Guanyin in Chinese and Avalokiteshvara in Sanskrit, is a central figure in Mahayana Buddhism, venerated as the bodhisattva of compassion. Bodhisattvas are beings who have attained a high level of enlightenment but, moved by compassion, choose to remain in the world to help others free themselves from suffering. Symbol of Diversity…
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The Bodhisattva Precepts There is a story that clearly illustrates the meaning of the bodhisattva precepts. An old master once traveled to central India, where a student approached him and said: “My parents, even though they follow the Way of the Three Treasures, have been very ill, and things aren’t going well for them. Our…
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The Way of Zen a walk to Awakening The way of Zen course is an educational offering within the Zen Buddhism program at the Zen Kannon Center. This course offers an in-depth look at different ways of living the Dharma. The curriculum is designed for meditators who wish to deepen their practice and for those…
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This year we are once again holding the 9-day August Zen meditation retreat in Lluçà. A Zen retreat is always a transformative experience, but this 9-day retreat, in particular, offers the opportunity to delve deep into our spirit, whether we are new or experienced practitioners, and to connect with our original nature. Why participate in…
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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…
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The Ten Stages of Ox Herding: A Zen Teaching The Ten Stages of Ox Herding is a well-known Zen teaching, and perhaps one of the first stories we encounter when beginning the study of Zen. In a conventional academic career, we acquire knowledge, complete courses, and earn degrees. However, in the Zen tradition, the use…
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The Eight Awakenings of the Great Beings Before his death, the Buddha gave his disciples one final teaching so they could continue on the path of full awareness eternally: the Eight Awakenings of the Great Beings. The great beings are the Buddhas, the awakened ones, those who follow the path of full awareness. Practicing these…
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