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Ways of Participation

Everybody is welcome to attend the regular daily schedule, to participate in full-time retreats (sesshins) and to join community events. People from the local area usually choose for evening meditations or study classes, whereas those from further away mostly prefer to come for a whole day, weekend, a week or longer. In fact an average of one third of participants, especially during sesshins, are from abroad. Although sesshins will always be popular because of their compact schedule and strong atmosphere, the number of people joining the regular daily schedule in between for a period of time is growing steadily, as it offers an evenly balanced schedule of zazen, dokusan, dharma talks, study groups and services as well as more time for social interaction. Please call the office to see how best to choose between the various options of participation.

Regular Daily Schedule

Saturday - Wednesday:

Sunday: 11:00 Dogen Study group / 19:00 Public Service
Monday: 19:30 River of Zen continuation class
Tuesday: 16:00 Right Speech class / 19:30 Introductory class
Wednesday: 19:30 Zazen & Teisho

Public Service

Sundays 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

A public service is held every Sunday night at 7:30 pm. Newcomers are requested to give a call first and arrive around 7:00 pm so as to get acquainted with procedures. After the service there is opportunity to join the evening meditation with residents and members (8:00 - 9:00 pm) and to be introduced to abbot Tenkei Roshi. These evenings are free of any contribution. If one would like to continue on and make a real start with Zen practice, an appointment for further instruction can be made on a Tuesday evening

For more info, please contact the office by telephone or mail.

Introduction

Tuesdays 7:30 pm - 9:15 pm

Introductions into Zen practice are given on every Tuesday night by senior students of Zen River from 7:30 pm until 8:30 pm (Contribution €12,50). Afterwards one can join the residents and members for the last period of the evening meditation in the Zendo (until 9:15 pm). Although all parts of the programme are open to everybody, it is wise to attend at least some of these introductory meetings first, especially before participating in the "River of Zen" continuation class on Monday nights.

Intro Zazenkai

Several times per year; check the calender of events
10:00 am - 6:00 pm

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In the Dojo

This Intro Zazenkai is held just three times a year and is led by Roshi. This is an all-day instruction course addressing the four elements of training, including posture work, a guided meditation, ritual practice, study and a discussion on the value of sangha, with lots of time for questions and answers. Perfect for newcomers to Zen River who would like to get acquainted with the style here before attending a sesshin, to meet Roshi, or just to brush up on old skills.

Zazenkai's at Zen River are usually conducted in Dutch, with some English translation if needed. Contribution includes lunch, tea and coffee. For a little extra, participants are also welcome to stay overnight and attend the Sunday programme; the two days together add up to a nice practice weekend.

River of Zen

Monday 7:30 pm

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Ongoing series of evening sessions for those who have received instruction in zazen and zendo procedures. The class is mostly attended by local members and offers an historic overview of buddhist texts - from the Indian Sutras and the Chinese classics to the Japanese literature and works by contemporary masters - focusing on their relevance for actual practice. Language: Dutch / English. At 8: 50 pm participants join residents and members for the last period of evening zazen in the zendo (until 9:15 pm). The River of Zen class is lead by Roshi or Sensei and continues during sesshins.

Sunday Dogen Study Group

Sundays 11:00 am

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On Sundays 11:00 am - 12.30 pm (during the regular daily schedule) Tenkei Roshi leads a study group that explores Buddhist master works, particularly from Dogen Zenji. Participants first read parts of these texts aloud in turn and are then invited to express whatever strikes them as particularly interesting or inspiring. A mondo with the Roshi follows as to deepen one's understanding.

Right Speech Class

Tuesdays 4:00 pm

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The Right Speech Class held Tuesday afternoons at 4:00 pm during the regular daily schedule. Participants are given the opportunity (5 -10 minutes) to present their understanding of a text that they studied beforehand (often from the Indian Sutras) or an issue that Roshi raises spontaneously at the start of the class. Afterwards Roshi shares his understanding of the topic, followed by a question and answer session. It is a way for everyone to practice speaking up and to learn expressing the dharma in alive words.

Please call ahead of time if you would like to join.

Teisho

Wednesday 7:30 pm

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Every Wednesday evening during the regular daily schedule Tenkei Roshi gives a Teisho (Dharma Talk), usually on a koan or a short excerpt from Zen classics like the "Eihei Koroku" of Dogen Zenji.

Sesshin

Sesshin (lit.: to connect the mind/heart) is a silent Zen retreat, with an intensive schedule of zazen, services, dharma-talks, dokusan and samu (work practice). The format offers an excellent opportunity to really focus on practice without any distractions. And it is no secret that the heightened samadhi of the whole group stimulates participants to break through barriers of the conditioned mind faster than usual. At Zen River sesshins of 2, 5 or 7 days are held every month. In August the whole month consists of sesshins (three 5-day and one 7-day sesshin). Although beginners may prefer to start with a Zazenkai or by attending some of the daily schedule first, it is also perfectly okay to start with one of these sesshins - depending on one's motivation. A relatively large group of participants are resident monks and members who attend sesshin regularly and their experience allows newcomers to readily trust the process and learn accordingly. Usually the following schedule is being maintained:

Calendar of Events

Winter 2012
December 27, 2011 - Jan. 1, '12 New Year Sesshin
January 27 - 29 Weekend Sesshin
February 4 Intro Zazenkai
February 18 - 25 Winter Closing Sesshin
February 26 - March 5 Spring Break
Spring 2012
March 10 Zazenkai Düsseldorf
March 25 Zazenkai Madrid
March 30 - April 1 Buddhas Birthday Sesshin
April 28 - May 2
(4-day sesshin)		 Sakura Jukai Sesshin
Summer 2012
May 25 - August 25 Summer Ango
May 25 - 27 Weekend sesshin
June 7 Den Haag
June 9 Intro Zazenkai
June 22 - 24 Weekend Sesshin
July 14 - 19 Family Week
July 28 - August 25 Month long sesshin
July 28 - Aug 2 Part one
August 4 - 9 Part two
August 11 - 16 Part three
August 18 - 25 Part four
August ? Outdoor Island Retreat
Aug 25 - Sep 2 Summer Break
Fall 2012
September 15 Intro Zazenkai
September 21 - 23 Weekend Sesshin
October 3 Zazenkai Düsseldorf
October 19 - 27 Fall Jukai Sesshin
November 15 Teisho Den Haag
Winter 2012 / 2013
November 24 - March 2 Winter Ango
Dec 1 - 8 or Nov 24 - Dec 1 Rohatsu
December 24 - 26 Christmas Break
December 27 - Jan. 1, '13 New Year Sesshin
February 2 Intro Zazenkai
February 16 - 23 Ango Closing Sesshin

Note: Besides a few minor alterations, sesshin dates & zazenkai's 2013 will remain similar as to 2012.

Contributions for the above events can be found on on the Contact page

Free days are Thursday & Friday. Exceptions are when a 7 day sesshin ends, after which there are 2 free days.

No scheduled activities during Spring break, Summer break and Christmas break (the week following the Winter Ango (March) the Summer Ango (late August) and during the Christmas Holidays between 24 - 26 December)