Saturday there is a Samu 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…
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…
Origin of the Lotus Sutra The Lotus Sutra is a fundamental text in Mahayana Buddhism and is considered one of the most important scriptures in this tradition. It comprises several chapters and presents the Buddha’s teachings on topics such as Enlightenment, emptiness, and the inherent Buddha-nature within all beings. A key concept highlighted in the…
What is a koan? In the zazen shin koan meditation, we will introduce the koan “polishing a tile.” A koan is a riddle used in Zen practice to help students transcend logic and attain a deeper understanding of reality. Koans are part of Zen teaching and serve as tools to provoke an experience of enlightenment…
The meditation with koan “Mu” is one of the most well-known koans within the Zen tradition. A koan is a kind of riddle or paradoxical question used in Zen practice to induce the awakening of the mind. The koan “Mu” has its origin in a dialogue between Master Joshu and one of his disciples. Koan…
Once upon a time, there was an old Zen master who lived with his community in a small temple deep in the mountains. The emperor, aware of his wisdom, invited him to a grand Buddhist festival where participants recited sutras for several days and enjoyed abundant and exquisite meals prepared by the palace chefs. The…
Zen Master Dogen (1200-1253) is one of the most influential figures in Japanese Buddhism, particularly within the Sōtō school of Zen. He is best known for introducing and establishing the practice of zazen (seated meditation) and writing the profound work Shōbōgenzō, a collection of his teachings. Dogen’s life and teachings have shaped the foundation of…
In the history of Zen, there have been especially brilliant masters. One of them is Keizan Jokin, a revered master for his crucial role in the expansion of the Soto Zen school in Japan. His legacy is both spiritual and literary, leaving an indelible mark on the practice of Japanese Zen. In 2025, the 700th…
