Zen Boat | Groningen

The Zen Boat is an outreach activity of the International Buddhist Monastery Zen River Temple.

The teachers living and working on the Zen Boat, Simon Senko de Boer and Helma Jifu Vulink, received dharma transmission in 2014 from Tenkei Roshi, abbot of Zen River. In addition to their work on the Zen Boat, Senko gives meditation classes in Zentrum Utrecht once a week, while Jifu has become the spiritual leader of Zen Centrum Rotterdam and is living and working there for two to four days a week.

The Zen Boat provides a year-round daily programme of meditation and study classes, combined with individual instruction (daisan) and Buddhist Services every morning. Every Thursday afternoon, an introductory hour is held for those new to zen practice. Once a month, on Saturdays, there is a day of zazen (zazenkai). Four times a year a sesshin is organized in cooperation with Zen Centre Rotterdam and Zentrum Utrecht. There is ample opportunity to stay overnight for a maximum of 8 participants. Online contact is maintained with students who live further away. Once a month, both on the Zen Boat and via zoom, putting the dharma into words is practiced in conjunction with the study of Buddhist literature in Study & Speech classes.

The Zen Boat maintains an informal style of practice, inspired by the Three Treasures – the insight of Buddha – the wisdom of Dharma – and the harmony of Sangha. Those Three Treasures are maintained and practised using the Four Training Elements as developed at Zen River Temple.

1) Zazen, a form of sitting meditation that makes it possible to experience our deepest being and to gain clarity about our function in life.

2) Zen Ritual, active forms of group meditation that help us develop a mutual connection with one another.

3) Study, the research of Buddhist scriptures and commentaries throughout the ages that support the practice of Zen in both meditation and daily life.

4) Bodhisattva Activity, practice in living a life of wisdom and compassion based on well-tested Buddhist guidelines.

For more detailed information on the Four Elements, please click here.

In Zen Boat activities, the aspect of the community (Sangha) is regularly emphasized both within the group of practitioners and towards other (local) Buddhist groups. The Zen Boat is open to anyone who wants to get acquainted with Zen practice. Each Thursday, full instruction is given to newcomers, including guided meditation, introducing basic principles of Zen Buddhism and Q&A.

Calendar

Program

Regular week schedule physical presence on the Zen Boat – During morning zazen, you can walk in – quietly – any time between 6.30 – 7.30 AM

Sunday
9–10 am zazen – also welcoming hour to those newly interested in zazen
Monday
6.30–8.20 am zazen + morning service / 7.30–9 pm practice upon appointment
Tuesday
6.30–8.20 am zazen + morning service / 7.30–9.15 pm zazen + dharma words
Wednesday
6.30–8.20 am zazen + daisan Senko + morning service
Thursday
6.30–8.20 am zazen + morning service / 5.30–6.30 pm zen intro / 7.30–9 pm zazen + daisan Jifu

Week schedule, zoom
Tuesday
4–5.30 pm daisan Senko / 7.30–9.15 pm zazen + dharma words
Wednesday
4–5.30 pm daisan Jifu
Thursday
7.30–8.30 am zazen + morning service

Introduction: Please call or email for joining our weekly zen intro on Thursday late afternoon at 5.30 pm, or pay us a visit on Sunday morning (from September 1 on).

Language: Classes and private interviews are held in English and, if needed, in Dutch.

Contributions

Contributions can be paid by bank transfer preferably (see below) or in cash upon arrival.

Zen Boat Membership includes zazen, zen intro, study classes, zen intro and personal interview (daisan), both on the Zen Boat and through zoom. Contributions and donations are tax-deductible.

IBAN: NL72 TRIO 0212 4970 30
account name ‘Zen River’
reference: ‘Zen Boat’

Contact

Tel. +31-50-7503343, email: zenboat@zenrivertemple.org
Zen Boat, Winschoterdiep 1027, 9724 GT  Groningen