Shusohossenshiki Ceremony
February 24, 2024
24/02/2024
On Saturday, February 24th, Marloes Myokan Harkema finished her term as Shuso for the Winter Ango with Shusohossenshiki. The ceremony was well attended by many members, family and friends. Zen River was happy to welcome Rev. Soho Kakita, the new European Sokan, as Jokeshi – the official witness from the Soto School. Congratulations!
Lecture by Rev. Soho Kakita, the new European Sokan.
24/02/2024
Rev. Soho Kakita gave an interesting lecture on the Shuryo-shingi written by Dogen Zenji with his translation. It is a list of instructions on how to behave in the Shuryo (“lecture hall”) in Japanese training temples.
Jukai Ceremony
10/02/2024
Congratulations to Cor Mukan 無 関 (No Barrier) Buisman and Guido Chonen 超 然 (going beyond all distinctions) Klerk upon receiving Jukai from Tenkei Roshi. The ceremony took place at the beginning of the February Gyoji week.
Young Minds Weekend Seminar
05/02/2024
This year’s Young Minds Seminar included guided zazen with Tenkei Roshi using the four modes of meditation, a Right Speech class with Shuso Myokan, exercises to help with zazen posture with Doin Sensei and a question and answer session with Taikan. This time we held an enthusiastic singing workshop led by Pieter Fumon Bosma! Mornings began early at 5:00 am with zazen, formal oryoki meals in the zendo, and work practice in the garden, kitchen, and indoor cleaning.
Shiho Ceremony for Shosan Zen’etsu Klopman
23/01/2024
Zen River is happy to announce that on January 20, 2024, Tenkei Roshi gave Shiho/Denbo (Dharma Transmission) to Gert Shosan Zen’etsu Klopman at Zen River temple. It was a wonderful day. Michel Genko Dubois Roshi came from Paris to attend the Denkai evening ceremony as Kyojushi, and Gakudo Roshi travelled from Keiryuji, Spain to join the celebrations. Congratulations!
Also, Ranka Sensei led a sewing crew of members at the Zen Boat to secretly stitch the mokoran-coloured Okesa for the transmission, and Taikan carved a beautiful kotsu (teaching stick) from the cherry wood trees that used to line the driveway.
Wintery Winter Ango & Gyōji Week
16/01/2024
A Wintery Winter Ango! The second Gyōji week of the Winter Ango suddenly felt a frosty bite in the air after days of rain. This week, eighteen Zen River members and residents are practising together. They come from The Netherlands, Belgium, Canada, Slovakia, Italy, the USA, and Germany. Quite an international group!
Gyōji week is where we welcome both familiar members and newcomers. And if you are a member of Zen River, you can register anytime there is practice ongoing outside of sesshins.
| December 27 – Jan.1, 2024 | New Year Sesshin Part 1 |
| January 3–6, 2024 | New Year Sesshin Part 2 |
| January 13-18 | Gyōji Week |
| January 26-28 | Bodhidharma Weekend Sesshin |
| February 3-4 | Young Minds Seminar |
| February 17-24 | Ango Closing Sesshin |
| February 25-March 8 | No scheduled activities |
| SPRING INTERIM 2024 | |
| March 16-17 | Rakusu Sewing Sesshin |
| March 29-31 | Easter Weekend Sesshin |
| April 13-18 | Gyōji Week |
| April 27-May 2 | Sakura Spring Sesshin |
| May 11-16 | Gyōji Week |
| SUMMER ANGO | |
| May 25-30 | Falling Flowers Sesshin |
| June 8-13 | Gyoji Week |
| June 21-23 | Weekend Sesshin |
| July 6-11 | Young Minds Seminar |
| Summer Monthlong Sesshin | July 27-August 24 |
| week 1 | July 27-August 1 (5-day) |
| week 2 | August 3-8 (5-day) |
| week 3 | August 10-15 (5-day) |
| week 4 | August 17-24 (7-day) |
| August 25 – September 6 | No scheduled activities |
| September 13–15 | Weekend Sesshin – Lima group |
| September 27–29 | Sacred Mischief, Equanimity and the Worldy Winds w/ Moshe Cohen |
| October 26–31 | Falling Leaves Sesshin |
| November 8–10 | Rakusu Sewing Sesshin |
| November 9-14 | Gyōji Week |
| November 23–30 | Rohatsu Sesshin |
| December 14–19 | Gyōji Week |
| December 18, 20:00 | Tutti Cantano Choir concert at Zen River |
| December 27-Jan.1, 2025 | New Years Sesshin part 1 |