2019 New Years Sesshin & Jukai Ceremony

31/12/2019 – 01-01-2020

New Year’s Day Service

Tenkei Roshi gave Jukai for Christiane Shokei 祥 形  (Auspicious Appearance)  Franz, from Germany,  and Karina Shigen  至 源 (Attending to the Source) Vanhoucke, from Belgium, on New Year’s Eve. Congratulations!

The Young Minds of Zen River got together to sing a song at the New Year’s Eve party!

Tutti Cantano Sings at Zen River

22/12/2019

One of our Zen River members, Pieter Fumon Bosma, is a professional music director. He conducts various ensembles, most notably top fanfare orchestra Oranje in Grootegast. In 2016 Pieter began working with chamber choir Tutti Cantano in Zuidwolde, and invited both Tammy (Myoho Roshi) and Robert (Doin Sensei) to join their ranks. So for the last three and a half years, they have been members of the choir. Last month the choir performed their 20-year anniversary concert, with Renaissance and contemporary music, therefore titled “Klanken van Toen en Nu”. On December 18th the choir came to Zen River to perform the very same program with a small surprise at the end. The highlight of the concert consisted of two new pieces, written for Tutti Cantano by composer Chris Fictoor, who was joined the evening.

Rohatsu Sesshin 2019

02/12/2019

Group photo at the end of Rohatsu sesshin with Taikan as Shuso for this Winter Ango Training period

During samu (work period) the damage done to the trim on the stone garden was repaired by Hakugyu

Shuso Taikan arranged all the cleaning jobs

Jitei pruning the juniper at the front

Kitchen prep with Myoho Roshi

Ranka Sensei in the sewing room

22/11/2019

Visit to Zen River Lima Group

Roshis Tenkei and Myoho were invited by the Zen Rive Lima group, led by Ryusho Sensei, to share the Dharma.

Ryusho Sensei is involved with supporting a project, funded by the company he works for, to protect endangered turtles (taricaya) from extinction in the Amazon! The Festival de Tortugas de Agua Dulce  was covered widely in the press. Click on the photo to watch. 

18/11/2019

Rakusu Sewing Sesshin

The first Rakusu Sewing sesshin led by Ranka Sensei (standing) was a happy event. Everyone went home both surprised and pleased in how far they got with sewing their rakusu!

04/11/2019

Newsletter Winter 2019-20

The latest newsletter is out and ready online! This year’s fundraiser is especially urgent as all proceeds go towards the recent mishap with the drains. Click here to download

Drain Drama #6

23/10/2019

Once all the machines had gone, Shinyu’san and the garden crew began restoring the path and the bamboo.

Drain Drama #5

08/10/2019

The drain is repaired! The machines have gone and the clean up begins.

The trees after their drastic pruning took place.

Drain Drama #4

04/10/2019

After taking away the tree, tree stump, and the two septic tanks, the hole had to be filled with sand rather quickly.

The tree pruning was rather drastic. Luckily no plants were damaged.Everything had to be chipped.

21/10/2019

Jukai Ceremony for Koto Ishigawa

Tenkei Roshi gave Jukai to Koto Kinsen (琴 線 Harp String) Ishigawa on October 15 2019. Congratulations! Kinsen is practicing at Keiryuji with Gakudo Sensei in the Pyrenees

Drain Drama #3

01/10/2019

After taking down the trees, the cranes moved in to break down the septic tanks after removing the tree stump.

Tenkei Roshi surveying the damage

Drain & Tree Crew

07/10/2019

Calligraphy Workshop with Kaz Tanahashi

07/10/2019

Drain Drama #2

04/10/2019

After the septic tank was unearthed it turned out that the tree next to the building had grown roots; first through the tank walls, then several meters up the drainpipes into the building. This posed a danger because if it would blow over, the walls would come with it. After appying for a license from the local council the tree was felled with great sorrow

For the crane and diggers to reach the site safely, a steel road had to be laid over the grass to protect it.

The official also required that the stump be completely removed.

The council official also noticed that the branches overhanging the road were too low for traffic to pass and must also be pruned. Then to add frost to snow, three elm trees in the front are sick and must also come down. Meanwhile, the company recommended that while the iron road was still  in place. the trees along the ditch by the building could be pruned of deadwood that had developed due to drought 

Madrid Conference

03/10/2019

Zazenkai at Fundacion PonsMadrid

Open talk in El Escorial at Hotel Sercotel Los Lanceros

Eva translating for Tenkei Roshi

At the location of the new zendo in El Escorial, Madrid. Marisa Emyo Gonzalez will begin giving classes there and at Zen River Madrid. Emyo received Hoshi from Tenkei Roshi during the Summer Ango. Paul Taian Davies and Eva Borreguero, who live in El Escorial, will organize activities.

Drain Drama #1

03/10/2019

On the last day of the September weekend sesshin all the drains in the new wing toilets and showers were suddenly blocked. The local drain company quickly came in to help fix it. Unfortunately, when the high-pressure water hose was turned on, some water backed up an old drain hole concealed under the living room carpet, and up a few sinks. Another problem followed soon…

  

Vist of Inter-religious Christian Monastics

24/09/2019

A group of inter-religious Christian monastics visited Zen River to experience how a Buddhist monastic community lives together. Our guests were an international group, with monks and nuns coming from Norway, Portugal, America, and South Korea to name but a few. Their first intention was to travel to Japan, then realised they could get a taste of Japanese Buddhism in The Netherlands. Welcome!

Gate Opening Ceremony and Purification

14/09/2019

During Ryakufusatsu ceremony, Tenkei Roshi led a small ceremony to open and purify the new temple gate and driveway.
During Ryakufusatsu, Tenkei Roshi led a short ceremony to open and purify the new temple gate and driveway.

October 4-6

Zen Brush Workshop with Kaz Tanahashi

11/09/2019

Zen River is happy to welcome Kaz Tanahashi once more. If you are interested in joining this weekend, please contact the office soon as space is limited.

The Summer Month Long 2019

Zazen and Samu work period

26/07/2019

 

Shusohossenshiki Ceremony

07/07/2019

Shusohossenshiki Ceremony for Soshin Wisniewski on August 4th, 2019. Congratulations!

Roshis Tenkei and Myoho with Shuso Soshin Wisniewski; Shoki, Taikan Gregoire ; Benji, Konin Arends; and two of Soshins sons Eden Shōgaku Lonsdale and Merryn Yu-shin Lonsdale

Summer Month Long 2019

30/07/2019

The 2019 Summer Month Long is underway.

A Major Repair for the Summer Month Long!

31/07/2019

The coffee machine broke down just as the month long started. After several unsuccessful attempts, Taikan was finally able to repair it with the garden hose and lots of vinegar. Thank goodness!

Young Minds Seminar

14/07/2019

The 2019 Young Minds Seminar was a colorful event. The party tent was set up in the back garden and made for a perfect painting studio. Besides zazen, ritual, and various study classes, the youngsters engaged in creative forms of calligraphy; inspired by traditional masterpieces but also by modern graffiti artists. Young and old, we all enjoyed our time together.

Study Class with Tenkei Roshi
 
Samu Work Period
Work Period

Calligraphy and Graffiti painting

Morning Service

Sutra Reading Class with Doin Sensei

 
The Art Display
 

Summer Ango July 13 – August 24 

Month Long Sesshin July 27 – August 24

4/07/2019

The upcoming Summer Ango training period will officially start on Saturday July 13, with the Shuso entering ceremony for head-monk Andreas Soshin Wisniewski at 4:30 pm. Soshin met Tenkei Roshi in England in
1996 during sesshin. Genpo Roshi became his main teacher and gave
him monastic ordination in 2005. However, he often attends sesshin at
Zen River, and has, together with his three sons participated in the annual Family Week since 2003. We wish Soshin all the best, and already look forward to his Hossenshiki on August 4th at 11: 00 AM. Everybody is welcome to attend, so feel free to invite family and friends!

Plus, everyone is looking forward to the Summer Month-Long sesshin that begins Saturday July 27 at noon. A great time for the whole sangha to come together to practice as an extended family. As always, the Month-Long includes three 5-day and one 7-day sesshins with some free time in between. Registration is open for the whole month, or for those wishing to join for one, two, or three weeks. Contact the office for more information and to register.

 Maitreya Institute, Loenen

4/07/2019

Tenkei Roshi was invited by his dharma friend from the Tibetan tradition, Rev. Gendun Losang, to give a series of lectures during a Vipassana retreat at the Maitreya Institute in Loenen.

Spring/Summer Newsletter

1/07/2019

Spring/Summer 2019 Newsletter

Garden & Maintenance

24/06/2019

Weeding in Buddha Grove

The rotting workshop door and window frames undergo serious repair

Visit of Rev. Yuko Wakayama

&  Yamada Roshi

16/06/2019

This week we were happy to welcome two special guests: Rev. Yuko Wakayama from Shogakuji in Tokyo, and her master Yamada Roshi. Yuko-san met Tenkei once in Germany, and attended a public talk by him in Tokyo when he and Myoho visited Japan earlier this year. She then invited Tenkei to give a dharma talk at Shogakuji. It made her and her master curious about our style of practice and they decided to visit Zen River. While they were here, Yuko-san gave a lively and moving record of her experiences as a nun in Japan.

First Jukai Ceremony at the Zen Boat

14/06/2019

We are happy to announce that on Sunday June 9th the first Jukai ceremony took place on the Zen Boat. Harold Anzan (Quiet Mountain) en Joris Shodo (True Way) received the Buddhist precepts from Senko Sensei in the presence of Tenkei Roshi. Congratulations!

Opening Ceremonies at Keiryuji

Camprodon, Spain

Hojosan and Tenkei Roshi both officiated the opening ceremonies at Keiryuji, the mountain temple led by Tenkei Roshis first successor, Gakudo den Hollander
Memorial service for Koren Sensei; founder of Keiryuji, successor to Tenkei Roshi, and wife of Gakudo Sensei

Gakudo Sensei officiates his first shukke tokudo ceremony for Pascal Tetsuko van der Knokke and Emke Gyoen Jutte
Senseis Doin, Gakudo, and Rev. Tetsuko

Visit Junyu Kuroda Roshi & Yamamoto Roshi

29/05/2019

Zen River was happy to welcome both Junyu Kuroda Roshi and Yamamoto Roshi for the Falling Flowers Sesshin. Hojun, their translator, was unable to join but Doin could connect him from Poland through Skype with the assistance of a large speaker.
Kuroda Roshi gave a in-depth talk on the koan “Joshu Washes His Bowls” eloquently translated by Rev. Shuho Go

Shukke Tokudo Ceremony

22/05/2019

On May 22nd Tenkei Roshi gave shukke tokudo to Mieke Jyokun Eikemans, one of the Zen River residents. Congratulations!

THE 16TH UNITED NATIONS DAY OF VESAK CELEBRATIONS 2019

14/05/2019

Tenkei Roshi was one of hundreds of international delegates invited to attend the UNDV 2019 held in Hanoi

Shukke Tokudo Ceremony

12/05/2019

Wayne Taikan Gregoire received shukke tokudo (monk ordination) from Tenkei Roshi on May 4th. Congratulations!

Young Rivers Article

12/05/2019

A very nice article about the Zen River Young Minds seminar came out in a student magazine called Spectrum. It was written by one of the Young Mind participants who came in January. Click on the photo to read the full article.

Jukai Ceremony

03/05/2019

Tenkei Roshi gave Jukai to Dani Gensho (Magical Nature 幻 性) Delacámara at the end of the Sakura Spring Sesshin. Congratulations!

Gensho, standing with Tenkei and Myoho, is also a long-standing member of Zen River Madrid.

Happy Buddha’s Birthday!

08/04/2019

Visit to Japan

01/04/2019

Tenkei and Myoho started their visit attending the Higan Ceremony at Kirigayaji, the home temple of Hojo-san, which included a memorial service for Bernie Tetsugen Glassman
Food offering
Ashes of Bernie that were sent over by his widow Eve Marko were put in a traditional urn and placed on the altar together with the Ihai (memorial tablet)
Later the urn was buried next to the urn with ashes of Maezumi Roshi at the graveyard close to Fuji-dera, the mountain temple of Hojo-san near Mount Fuji
Tenkei was invited to give a talk at Kirigayaji. He also gave a dharma talk at another temple, Shogakuji, and a public lecture in Tokyo

Visiting Tōsen-in, the family temple of Rev. Shuho Go

They also went to visit Keisho-In, the temple of Koichi-san and his wife Masami

Dropping in for a cup of tea at Hoitsu Suzuki Roshi’s temple
The last evening, Hojosan celebrated his 80th birthday party at a lovely restaurant in Tokyo

Visit to Madrid

12/03/2019

In February, Zen River Madrid invited Myoho Roshi to give a teisho for the sangha. A lovely space was available at Fundación Pons. Many Zen River Madrid members attended with friends and family.

Lecture by Yusho Sasaki Roshi

04/02/2019

Zen River was happy to welcome Rev. Yusho Sasaski, the Sokan for the European Soto school. She gave an interesting lecture on the meaning of some of the gods and protectors depicted in the temples in Japan.

Shusohossenshiki Ceremony

for Gyosei Overbeek

10/02/2019

On February 10, Zen River held a shusohossenshiki ceremony for Gyosei Overbeek. Tenkei Roshi had requested her to be the head monk for the winter ango training period.

Receiving the shippei from Tenkei Roshi

Rev. Yusho Sasaski, the European Sokan, attended and witnessed the ceremony as Jokeshi.

 

Jukai Ceremony

04/02/2019

Tenkei Roshi gave Jukai to three young minds; Eden Sho-gaku (祥學 Fortunate Study) Lonsdale ; Reyhan Ban-kyu (萬究 Ten thousand things Investigation) Lonsdale; and Merryn Yu-shin (雄心 Strong Heart) Lonsdale. The three brothers have been coming with their father, Andreas Soshin Wisniewski, to Family Week since it began in 2004.

 

Young Minds Weekend Retreat

04/02/2019

Young Minds Weekend Retreat attracted many students from many different nationalities!
Besides zazen, services, oryoki meals and study classes there was also a painting project led by Tenkei Roshi

Snowy Entrance

02/02/2019

The gate is 99 percent complete, just in time for the first snowfall! All that is left to do is the stain and a few details on the woodwork when the weather warms up

Zen River Temple Gate

21/01/2019

The gate is almost finished. Just a few steps left.

Young Minds Zen Weekend

A monastic experience for anyone age 15-30

February 2-3, 2019

23/12/2018

The program, especially designed for young people, will include training in zazen (Zen meditation), Buddhist ritual, scriptural study, and several group activities. Arrival is Saturday February 2nd, at 11:00 am, and ends Sunday, February 3rd, at 5:00 pm. The suggested donation for this event is €40,-. For more information, and for registration, please contact the office at office@zenrivertemple.org or +31 (0)595 435039

Happy New Year!

04/01/2019

Happy New Year from the New Years Sesshin participants!

Archives 2016

Archives 2017

Archives 2018

NOV. 24, 2018 – FEB 23, 2019 WINTER ANGO
November 24–December 1 Rohatsu Sesshin
December 27–January 1 2019 New Year Sesshin
January 18–20 Bodhidharma Weekend Sesshin
January 26–27 Intro Weekend
February 1–3 Young Rivers Weekend
February 9–21 Ango Closing Sesshin
part 1: Febr. 9–14
part 2: Febr. 16–21
February 9, 19:30 Lecture by Yusho Sasaki Roshi
February 10, 11:00 Shusohossenshiki for Gyosei Overbeek
MAR. 9 – JUNE 7 SPRING INTERIM
March 29–31 Weekend Sesshin
April 27–May 2 Sakura Spring Sesshin
May 25–30 Falling Flowers Sesshin;
Guest teacher; Yamamoto Roshi
JUNE 8 – AUGUST 24 SUMMER TRAINING
June 8–9 Intro Weekend
June 21–23 Weekend Sesshin
July 6-11 Young Minds Seminar
JULY 27 – AUG. 24, 2019 SUMMER MONTH LONG SESSHIN
July 27–August 1 Part One
August 3–8 Part Two
August 10–15 Part Three
August 17–24 Part Four
August 24 11:00 AM Shuso Hossenshiki
September 20–22 Weekend Sesshin
October 4–6 Calligraphy Workshop with Kaz Tanahashi
October 19–24 October Falling Leaf Sesshin
November 23–30 Rohatsu Sesshin
Dec. 27–Jan. 1 2020

New Year Sesshin
September 7-8Utrecht, City Sesshin at Zentrum, led by Senko Sensei
September 15Hengelo, Zazenkai at Zen in Twente, led by Doin Sensei
September 27-29Madrid, Zazenkai & talks, led by Tenkei Roshi
October 3Düsseldorf, Zazenkai at Kanzeon, led by Daishin Sensei
November 16-17Rotterdam, Weekend sesshin at Kanzeon, led by Jifu Sensei