Zen Boat | Groningen

Upcoming Events

• Jul.18-22 l Maintenance Week Zen Boat
• Sept. 3 l David Loy lecture Vipassana Centre
• Sept. 5 l Zazen at the Beach
• Sept. 10 l Start Introduction Course

See also the calendar

Introductory Course

On Thursday, September 10 from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m starts afresh a series of three times six introductory sesshions. With each subsequent series the focus shifts from 1) learning to meditate, to 2) becoming acquainted with zen concepts, to 3) appreciating daily life from an enlightening ‘bodhisattva’ perspective. All sessions combine guided meditations with zazen and the study of short zen texts. Each time there is ample opportunity for questions and answers. You will receive assignments to practice at home. For each subsequent series of six sessions re-registering is required.

About the Zen Boat

The Zen Boat is a houseboat in the center of Groningen on which zen-practice in daily life is central focus. The Zen Boat is affiliated with the international Buddhist monastery Zen River Temple. The teachers living and working on the Zen Boat, Senko de Boer and Jifu Vulink, received dharma transmission in 2014 from Tenkei Roshi, abbot of Zen River. In November 2025, they received inka, which is seen as a final seal of approval as a teacher of zen. In addition to their work on the Zen Boat, Senko gives meditation classes in Zentrum Utrecht once a week. Jifu serves as the spiritual leader at Zen Centrum Rotterdam where she is usually present three days a week for teaching.

Living Zen The Zen Boat cherishes 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, which are:

1) Zazen. In seated meditation, we can experience what moves us most deeply and gain some clarity about how we function in daily life;

2) Zen Ritual. In ritual we get familiar with a language of form beyond words and thus become more sensitive to the profound connection we appear to have with others;

3) Study. Through study we are introduced to dharma teachings since the time of the Buddha and learn to recognize and acknowledge their wisdom in our practice, both in meditation and in our daily actions;

4) Bodhisattva Activity. In engaging the day to day we learn to muster the courage to take enlightenment as a standard for our daily lives and actually practice wisdom and compassion. To this end, social activities are regularly organized within the sangha. Contacts are also maintained with other (local) buddhist groups for joint events.

The Zen Boat is open to anyone who wants to get acquainted with zen practice, and it aims to be an inspiring home for those who want to incorporate the way of zen into their daily lives.

Meditation and Study

The Zen Boat program provides a year-round daily programme of meditation, buddhist morning services and study classes, combined with individual encounters with the teacher (dokusan) and weekly group-oriented dharma teachings. In three monthly classes, called ‘Study & Speech’, both on the Zen Boat and via zoom, there is an opportunity to practice expressing the dharma in words. In these classes, participants give verbal presentations of a studied buddhist text within the intimacy of sangha. Practicing speaking, listening to each other, and appreciating the diversity of input, proved to be a powerful support in actually learning to embody the way of zen.

City retreat For some time now, it has been possible to do an individual retreat on the Zen Boat. The Zen Boat is located in the middle of the city of Groningen, in a quiet spot on the water. The retreat room is spacious and has a tranquil atmosphere. The boat has a library with an extensive collection of Buddhist literature. The exact details of the retreat program — zazen, study, liturgy practice, personal interview and samu — are discussed in advance with one of the teachers. The rhythm of the daily program on the Zen Boat is leading. It is possible to combine the retreat with work and/or study commitments.

Zazenkai & sesshin Each year several one-day (zazenkai) and multi-day (sesshin) meditation gatherings are organized. These gatherings take place both on the Zen Boat in Groningen and at various locations near nature reserves. There is ample opportunity for overnight stays.

Calendar 2026

– Summer – Programme

During summer months, alternative schedule:

Sunday, July 12 – August 30, 8.30 – 9.30 am in Stadspark, gather without appointment

Tuesday, July 7 – August 25, 7.30 – pm on the Zen Boat, organized by Sangha

Thursday, July 8 – August 27, 7 – 8 am on the Zen Boat, organized by Sangha

Regular weekly schedule in-person – During morning zazen, you can walk in – quietly – any time between 6.30 – 7.30 am

Language: Classes and dokusan are held in English and, if mentioned/needed, in Dutch.

Contributions

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

	Physical	Zoom
Membership *	€40 per month / €400 per year	€15 p.m. / €150 p.y.
First meeting	donation appreciated
Sunday morning zazen	donation appreciated
Study & Speech (10 sessions)	€100 per year	€100 per year
Introduction course (18 sessions)	€150 total course / €60 per block (6 sessions)
City Retreat	€30/per day, incl. stay overnight
Zazenkai, one day at Zen Boat	€30
Zazenkai, Schiermonnikoog	€75 / incl. ferry, lunch & bicycle rental
Weekend Sesshin	€75/three days, excl. stay overnight €50/two days, excl. stay overnight
Stay overnight	€20/night
Sesshin on location	see relevant website

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

Bank account number: (IBAN): NL72 TRIO 0212 4970 30
BIC/SWIFT: TRIONL2U
Account name: ‘Zen River’, mention ‘Zen Boat activity’
Bank name: Triodos Bank

Contact

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