Updated February 22, 2012

Coming Up Soon

Shuso Hossen Shiki, Saturday February 25 at 11:00am

This weekend at 11:00am there is shuso hossenshiki for Simon Senko de Boer. We are also happy to welcome as Jokeshi (special witness from the Soto School), Rev. Taitoku Hosokawa, abbot of Kojo-ji in Tokyo, Japan. He will arrive Friday night with his wife. Everyone welcome to attend! Lunch will follow the cermony.

In Memoriam

Sam Oshin Russell

March 28, 1933 - February 2, 2012

We are sad to announce that Sam Oshin Russell passed away on February 2, 2012 after a long decline. Our deepest condolences go to his dear wife Catelijn, who has been taking care of him to the very end. The funeral service was held in Middelburg and officiated by Tenkei Roshi. Sam was a dedicated member of Zen River, and will always be remembered as a great-hearted high-spirited Australian with a quick and generous sense of humor.
We will miss you very much, Sam. Have a swift passage to the other shore.

Making the new altar

Peter working on the new altar in the extension window

Extension Almost Complete

The old bricks have been pointed and the work is almost done.The roofers still have to come to put on tar paper.

Zen River on Facebook

You can also join the Zen River Group on Facebook , a group for members to interact.

New Entrance

February 13: New entrance, measuring tatami for the floor trim

Brickwork for the extension

February 10: Chris is working on the brickwork using old local bricks.

Jukai Ceremony January 22, 2012

Jukai group photo

Erik Kizan de Vries and Herman Daishi Postma received jukai on January 22. Congratulations!

Tosho-ji, Okayama, Japan

Tosho-ji temple (built 1412) in Okayama, Japan, where Myoho trained for three months in the fall of 2011

Tosho-ji group photo: Front row left to right,: Kazuko-san, guest monk, Seido Suzuki Roshi, Chosenji-san
Back row left to right: Mumon-san, Seishin-san, Shugetsu-san, Myoho-san, Ryoshu-san, Daiku-san and guest.

Tosho-ji Group photo: Seido Suzuki Roshi (center) with guests and trainees.
Link to Toshoji in Okayama

Temporary Hondo in Yoga Room

Temporary hondo in the Yoga Room

Work begins on the Hondo

New Year's Party

The bucket song

Myoho's 50th birthday was also celebrated on News Years Eve. She received a bicycle as a present from the sangha

Open House December 18, 2011 and Opening of Zendo

Service preceding the official opening with a full house!

Contractor Klaas de Boer and architect Livius Juk both cut ribbons to mark the opening.

The opening was followed by a toast and speeches

sitting zazen [as/is an] art

Four Zen River monks took part in "De Vis en de Waterman II: Zen en de Zingende Vis", a multi-media festival in Grijpskerk.

Rohatsu Sesshin

Zazen

Oryoki

Ranka with the tenzo-ryo of Aichi Senmon Nisodo

Last tan carried into the zendo

With tan nr. 14 the big job for Gakudo is completed

Kanzeon Teachers Meeting

November 20: Group picture after morning service

Morning service

Jifu in the kitchen

Panel discussion

Visit to China

Master Cheng-Xin, abbot of Tiantong Temple (Tendo-ji)

Tenkei Roshi gives a talk during the conference on Hongzhi, organised by Tiantong Temple (Tendo-ji)

Meeting with Master Ke Xiang of the Seven-pagoda Temple

Touring China

Jukai Ceremony

October 22: Joost Fushin Blom received jukai. Congratulations!

Zazenkai Düsseldorf

October 3: Roshi held a Zazenkai in Düsseldorf

Windows and woodwork painted

September 8: woodwork in the zendo gets a final coat of paint, thanks to Steffan Buikema, a professional painter from Uithuizen. The inner and outer windows should be completed around September 25th

Shuso Hossen Shiki August 27 2011

Teisho at Zen River by Junyu Kuroda on August 26 2011

Gift Trees

Three trees were gifted to the Zen River garden: Royal Red Maple, Magnolia and a Japanese Maple. Thank you!

Simonszand August 15, 2011

Summer Month Long in the New Zendo

A full house and still plenty of space

Although still unfinished the zendo alreadly functions beautifully. Nine more tans are in the making and the woodwork is ready for painting.

The windows will soon be equiped with wooden blinds; the altar is provisional and will be replaced by a grander model in time.

Nevertheless the atmosphere is there.

Family Week

July 16 - 21

Family Zazen, morning and evening.

Studio

Artworks made in the studio are part of the backdrop for the play

Scene from the play: Temptation of Mara

Scene from the play - Buddhas Sermon

Service: Karaoke Sutra

How to extract honey

Boys day flags: Koi

Girls day display

Yoga in the new zendo

Final party: Buddhas Jukebox

Zendo Taking Shape

A few tans are now placed in the new zendo. They will be stained over the course of the summer sesshin in August.