News Archive 2009

Spring 2009

Daido Loori Roshi

We are sad to announce that Daido Loori Roshi, the abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery, is gravely ill and may pass away any day soon. Please hold him in your prayers as we do here during sesshin at Zen River. Daido Roshi, one of Maezumi Roshi's direct successors, has been a highly influential Zen master who established a thriving monastery and set up a model of training that cuts a creative balance between monastic and lay practice. He produced three successors, Sensei's Myotai Treace, Shugen Arnold and Ryushin Marchaj. The latter two will take over the responsibility for the monastery and its affiliate temple in New York City. For more information, please visit the website Zen Mountain Monastery

(As an intimate detail, some twelve years ago Daido Roshi and Myotai Sensei generously offered to publish the first manuscript Tenkei Roshi had made based on Maezumi Roshi's teisho delivered in Europe. Concequently, in 1998 Dharma Publications brought out a small booklet under the title "The Echoless Valley" adorned with photographs by Daido Roshi. Later this collection was included in "Teaching of the Great Mountain" published in 2001 by Tuttle.)

October 3rd, 2009

Summer Ango

May 29 - August 29, 2009

Summer is fast approaching and we are happy to announce that Robert Doin van de Roer will be Shuso during the 2009 Summer Ango. Doin has been a resident at Zen River since 2004. He received shukke tokudo from Tenkei Roshi two years ago. The Summer Ango will begin on Friday May 29, 8:30 pm with official Entering Ceremonies for the Shuso and Ango participants. This year, the Summer Ango also includes the annual British Week, May 29 - June 5, and the Month long sesshin, which begins on August 1, 12:00 pm. Ango ends with the traditional Shuso Hossenshiki for Doin on August 29, 11:30 am. Be prepared for a grand party afterwards and have songs ready!

During the Ango, there will be the popular one day retreat on Simonszand, an isolated sandbank in the Waddensea, a few miles off the coast. Non-Ango participants are also welcome to join this wonderful event. Please contact the office for more information. When you come, be on time, as the boat cannot wait! Bring a towel, water bottle, some wading sandels to walk through shallow water, sunscreen and weather-proof clothing as it can be windy! Lunch and supper are provided. Date and times to be announced soon.

In the Summer month-long sesshin in August, participation for is open for week one, two, three and four or the full month. Arrival time weeks one two and three is Saturday, 12:00 pm Departure time is Thursday morning, 10:00 am. The final week is a seven day sesshin and begins Saturday August 22, 12:00 pm and ends after the ceremony on Saturday August 29, 2:00 pm. Please refer to the Questions page for contributions.

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Spring 2009 Newsletter

Summer Ango

May 29 - August 29, 2009

 

Summer is fast approaching and we are happy to announce that Robert Doin van de Roer is now Shuso for this 2009 Summer Ango. Doin has been a resident at Zen River since 2004. He received shukke tokudo from Tenkei Roshi two years ago.

During the Ango a month-long sesshin begins on August 1, 12:00 pm. Ango ends with the traditional Shuso Hossenshiki for Doin on August 29, 11:30 am. Be prepared for a grand party afterwards and have songs ready!

Also, there will be the popular one day retreat on Simonszand, an isolated sandbank in the Waddensea, a few miles off the coast on August 20th. Non-Ango participants are also welcome to join this wonderful event. Please contact the office for more information. When you come, be on time, as the boat cannot wait! Bring a towel, water bottle, some wading sandels to walk through shallow water, sunscreen and weather-proof clothing as it can be windy! Lunch and supper are provided.

For the month-long sesshin, participation for is open for week one, two, three and four or the full month. Arrival time weeks one two and three is Saturday, 12:00 pm Departure time is Thursday morning, 10:00 am. The final week is a seven day sesshin and begins Saturday August 22, 12:00 pm and ends after the ceremony on Saturday August 29, 2:00 pm. Please refer to the Contact page for contributions.

 

Visit Koichi Isoda

Zen River was happy to welcome Koichi-san this week.

Roshi asked him to give his impressions of Zen in the West through his eyes at the Wednesday night talk

Later, to conclude the evening and the British Week, Koichi-san played three energetic pieces on his Shamisen!

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Visit Taos & White Plum Asangha Meeting, May 2009

White Plum Asanga group photo at Upaya in Sante Fe, New Mexico, USA.

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Poem for Maezumi Roshi by Jan Chozen Bays Roshi which was read aloud during the memorial service Hello Roshi. Here we are, Your children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Gathered here And spread all around This great spinning earth. It’s your fault, you old gangster. Things weren’t quite perfect as they were, And so you had to go And make a vow With the naïve optimism of youth We picked it up And now look at us! You’re dead. And we’re limping along Half blind on fractured limbs. Just who do we think we are? Spinning, spinning In empty space, Spinning out the endless strands of your great vow. Shigata ga nai. ** Shigata ga nai. Shigata ga nai!   ** (A common Japanese saying meaning “It can’t be helped!” or, loosely, “Since there’s nothing anyone can do about it , just go straight on.”)

Enkyo O'Hara Roshi & Chozen Bays Roshi

White Plum Asangha members gather in the front entrance

In the Upaya garden

Liz & Gerhard's new home in Taos, where Myoho Sensei and Tenkei Roshi were warmly welcomed for a few days before and after the meeting.

Liz & Roshi, after a small ceremony to open their zendo and eyes of the Buddha Statue

During the meeting, Roshi and Sensei stayed with Jim Green a senior student of Musai Roshi, and Charleen his wife.

On the last day, Tenkei Roshi, Myoho Sensei and Liz visited Musai Roshi, (right) his wife Kathleen (center left)

Daishin Sensei (center right) and his wife Linda (left) at Prajna Zendo in Sante Fe where they were holding sesshin.

 

Wedding Ceremony May 10

Dirk & Marianne

Dirk Beemster & Marianne Groot with the wedding party

Dirk & Marianne. Exchange of rings

Sharing personal vows

The family with Roshi

Cutting the cake at the party

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Jukai Ceremony May 6

At the end of the Sakura Jukai Sesshin, May 6 2009

Janna Komyo (Bright Seedling) de Vries, Pepijn Issan (One Mountain) Meerloo and Diana Rinsho (Presence Illumination) van Gelder

For more pictures visit Pascals collection on FlickR

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Workshop in poetry and art with Eido Carney Roshi

Eido Roshi & Tenkei Roshi during coffee break

The theme of this years workshop was to draw with ones eyes closed.

Eido Roshi giving instruction on how to draw without using eyes.

Practising one evening in Noordpolderzijl

The results from the workshop were suprising!

At the end, each one gave a short review of their own experience, and recited a poem written to accompany their artwork.

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Visit Madrid April 09

Public talk at the Circulo de Bellas Artes in the heart of Madrid.

Zazenkai in Madrid

Stretching during the introduction

In Avilá.. Marisa, Roshi, Tammy and Concha.

Listening to the sound in the dome inside the Templars church, Segovia.

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Concha, Roshi, Paul, Marisa and Shoei-san in Avila

Dharma Talk at the Zen River Madrid Group zendo

Concha translated Roshis' talks during the visit.

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Buddhas Birthday Sesshin

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At the end of the sesshin & jukai ceremony for Eric Kogen (broad source) van den Berg & Peter Shoryu (auspicious dragon) de Rooden

At the end of the Jukai ceremony for Eric Kogen van den Berg & Peter Shoryu de Rooden

Bathing the Baby Buddha during Buddhas Birthday sesshin service

 

 

In memoriam

Frits Blog

August 6, 1951 - March 28, 2009

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On March 28 our dear friend Frits Blog passed away after a long illness.

Our hearts go out to Hank, his life-long partner. We're grateful to both.

When Roshi and Sensei moved back to the Netherlands in 2000,

Hank and Frits were of great help and invited them to stay at their home for the first three months.

Funeral services were held in Den Haag. At Zen River Frits was remembered in an intimate ceremony.

Frits, Tenkei Roshi & Hank relaxing in front of the Inryo at Zen River last October.

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Ryokan Poetry & Calligraphy Workshop April 24 - 26

led by Eido Carney Roshi

Eido Carney Roshi

A wonderful workshop combining Poetry & Calligraphy work. We are happy to welcome back Eido Carney Roshi from Olympia Zen Center in Washington, U.S.A. who will lead the workshop. Please contact the office for more information.

Open House

Sunday March 29 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

The local newspaper DVHN covered the event. To read it online, and for reader comments, click here

Open House

Sunday March 29 2:00 pm - 8:00 pm

Each year Zen River opens its doors to the local community. Everyone is invited to have a peek inside Zen River and participate in a service at 2:30 pm and 7:30 pm. Complimentary tea, coffee and home-made cookies are served in the hallway. This annual event has proven to be very valuable in communicating our work and vision, particularly with people who are new to Buddhism and who otherwise would not easily enter a Zen temple. Together with other initiatives it has helped us to develop a very open and friendly connection with the local community. As a small but significant detail, it has happened several times that Zen River members from abroad, who got lost in the village after arriving at the little Uithuizen train station, asked someone from the village for directions and ended up being chauffeured personally to Zen River! Open House involves a lot of extra work though, so if you have time to spare and would like to help out in exchange of free lodging and food, that would be very much appreciated. 

The local newspaper DVHN covered the event. To see it online, click here

 

New Weekend Sesshin Dates &

New October Sesshin Dates

We are happy to announce two new Weekend sesshins. The first is scheduled for June 26 - 28 and the second on October 30 - November 1. Weekend Sesshin begins as usual with a meeting at 8:30 pm on Friday and ends 6:00pm with supper on Sunday.

After long consideration the 7-day October 2009 Jukai sesshin has been rescheduled. The new dates are October 3 - 10. This change is due to a meeting of the European Soto School in La Gendronniere, France, that was scheduled during the weekend of October 16 - 17. Tenkei Roshi attends these meeting regularly to keep in touch with recent developments.

 

 

Visit Shoei-san, March 10-21

Zen River was happy to welcome Shoei Takahashi. Shoei-san trained in Eihei-ji and is currently working at the Soto-school office in Paris.

He will visit various temples and centers in Europe over the next few weeks and plans to join Tenkei Roshi and Myoho Sensei in Madrid for the Zazenkai on April 19th!

 

 

Bodhidharma Wish

Hojosan sent two red Bodhidharma heads from his temple, Kirigaya-ji. They are traditional at New Years in Japan.

At the start of the sesshin on February 7th, everyone chanted the Heart Sutra then made a wish while Tenkei Roshi and Myoho Sensei each painted in one eye of the red head.

The other eye is left blank and is painted in when the wish has been fulfilled!!

 

Shuso Hossenshiki

February 14, 2009

Benji chants while the shuso returns the text after the dharma talk

Receiving the shippei from Tenkei Roshi

The last word

The Sangha gave Seishin a beautiful Tanka of a White Tara as a congratulatory gift.

Speeches!

And a hip hip hurah from Tenkei Roshi!

 

November Fundraising Update

The November fundraiser has been very successful again and € 6.300 have been collected. Thank you all so much for your generous contributions. The money will go to the Zen River zendo fund which enables us to pursue the design and the realization of the new zendo, hopefully within the next few years. As mentioned above, there are different ways to go forward, depending primarily on the overall expenses. Besides aiming for a separate building in the back, there is also the possibility to extend the present zendo some three meters or so into the garden. We'll keep you posted on developments. Your donations are surely making a great difference!  

 

Tenkei Roshi's 60th birthday celebration

Tenkei Roshi turned 60 last week, so there was a small party held at Zen River

A gift from the Sangha was a small easel and art table, along with an electric shaver!

 

Genshin Sensei's Dharma Talk

After Ameland, Genshin Sensei gave a short Dharma talk on Saturday night. Thank you!

 

 

Newsletter and Fundraiser Update 2008

 

For those who have registered for the web based version of the newsletter, we are happy to announce that it is now available on the website. Please click here to view it.

Donations towards the initial expenses for realizing the new zendo are still coming in. Many thanks to those who have contributed so far! It gives great faith in the project. We'll keep you posted.

Photo Album from November trip to Japan and China

Visit Japan and China Nov 08

Click above to link to the Picassa photo album and choose "slideshow"

 

Winter Ango Closing Sesshin

February 7 - 14

Right now we are preparing for the Ango Closing sesshin which will start this Saturday at noon. The Shuso Hossenshiki for Head Monk Wynn Seishin Wright will conclude the sesshin and the Ango. It will take place Saturday February 14 at 11:30 am. All dragons and elephants are more than welcome to participate in this event and to confront Seishin in dharma combat!!! Unfortunately she and her husband Mike will need to return to USA for some time again because of the tight visa regulations of the Dutch government. We are sad to see them go, which is one more reason to join this special event!

Sesshin Start Time Changes

The arrival time for some sesshins will change, making it easier for all participants to arrive and start sesshin together.

7 DAY SESSHIN : Please arrive Saturday by 13:00 for lunch and meeting. Depart Saturday after lunch at 2:00 pm 

5 DAY SESSHIN: Please arrive Saturday by 13:00 for lunch and meeting. Depart Thursday morning after 8:00am service & breakfast (After brunch on New Years Day)

WEEKEND SESSHIN: (unchanged) Newcomers please arrive Friday at 6:00 pm for orientation and instruction. Other participants, please arrive Friday evening between 7:00pm and 8:00pm. Meeting at 8:30 pm. Depart Sunday evening after 6:00 pm.

SCHEDULE: Click here to see sesshin schedule, weekend sesshin schedule and Oryoki instructions.

ZAZENKAI Arrive Friday evening before 9:00pm or by 9:30 am on Saturday. Depart 6:00 pm or arrange to stay overnight through Sunday Lunch

Those travelling from afar are welcome to arrive on Friday evening and depart Sunday

PART TIME: Those who can attend part time only, please register for the first half of sesshin & depart mid-sesshin.

Intro Zazenkai

January 31 2009, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

led by Tenkei Roshi

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 conducted in Dutch, with some English translation if needed. Instruction includes a guided meditation, basic yoga stretching, posture class, study of a Buddhist text and time for questions and answers. Contribution includes lunch, tea and coffee. For a little extra, participants in Uithuizen are also welcome to stay overnight and attend the Sunday programme; the two days together add up to a nice practice weekend.

 

Saturday January 24, 2009

Dharma Talk by Genshin Sensei

 

We are happy to announce that Genshin Sensei, one of Genpo Roshi's successors, has been invited by Tenkei Roshi to give a Dharma Talk on Saturday, January 24th at 7:30 pm at Zen River. Everyone is welcome to join! Genshin lives in the UK and runs a small home temple called Kannon-ji in the North of England.

 

Ameland Great Sangha Gathering 2009

Work Crew after a day of preparations

The initial setup before everyone arrives

Myoho Sensei and Jenny in the Kitchen

Welcome

Meditation & ceremonies

Big Mind sessions each afternoon

Kitchen Samu

Dharma Talk by Tenkei Roshi. (Photo by Pascal van der Knokke)

Shiho ceremony re-enactment for Maurice

Watching the inauguration of President Obama in the Dining Hall

Farewell Party

Bus home

 

Skating!

Tenkei Roshi happily skating on the icerink in Uithuizen

Senko and Jifu

 

Winter Ango

November 29 - February 14

Winter is approaching fast and we are happy to announce that Wynn Seishin Wright will be Shuso during the coming Winter Ango. Seishin has been studying Zen together with her husband Mike Daijo Wright since 1996, first at Kanzeon Zen Center Utah and since 2001 primarily at Zen River. They both received shukke tokudo from Tenkei Roshi two years ago. Rohatsu, one of the strongest sesshins of the year, will begin on Saturday November 29 at noon with lunch, followed by official Entering Ceremonies for the Shuso and Ango participants. The Winter Ango also includes the ever popular New Years sesshin, which begins on December 27 at noon and ends with a festive New Years Eve celebration followed next day by morning service and brunch. The Ango will close with a seven day sesshin February 7 - 14; the traditional Shuso Hossenshiki for Seishin will take place on February 14 at 11:30 am. Be prepared for a grand party afterwards and have songs ready!

 

2009 Calendar Dates later in the year are subject to slight alterations. Winter 2009 December 27 - Jan. 1, 09-New Year Sesshin January 13 - 21-Great Sangha Gathering, Ameland January 31 -----------------------------------Zazenkai February 7 - 14----------Ango Closing Sesshin February 15 - 23--------------------No scheduled activities Spring 2009 March 6 - 8----------------------Weekend Sesshin March 10 Informal evening w/Yusho Sasaki March 14--------------------Zazenkai Duesseldorf March 29, 14:00 - 20:00 hrs---Open House April 3 - 5 -----------Buddhas Birthday Sesshin April 19----------------------------Zazenkai Madrid April 24 - 26-------Ryokan poetry Workshop May 2 - 7 --------------------Sakura Jukai Sesshin Summer 2009 May 29 - August 29----- Summer Ango May 29 - June 4--------------------British Week May 29 - 31 ---------------------Weekend sesshin June 11 ---------------------------------------Den Haag June 20--------------------------------Intro Zazenkai June 26 - 28 --------------------Weekend Sesshin July 18 - 23----------------------------Family Week August 1 - 29 ---------Summer Month Sesshin August 1 - 6 --------------------Part one August 8 - 13--------------------Part two August 15 - 20 ---------------Part three August 22 - 29-----------------Part four August 20--------Simonszand Outdoor Retreat Aug 30 - Sept 6------- no scheduled actvities Fall 2009 September 12-----------------------Intro Zazenkai September 26-------------Zazenkai Duesseldorf October 3 - 10 -----------------Fall Jukai Sesshin October 30-November 1--Weekend Sesshin November 7------------------Visit Dr. Witteveen November 19 ------------------Teisho Den Haag Winter 2009 / 10 November 28 - Feb. 27-Winter Ango November 28 - December 5----------Rohatsu December 27 - Jan. 1, '10-New Year Sesshin January 12 - 20------Great Sangha Gathering February 6----------Intro Zazenkai February 20 - 27--------Ango Closing Sesshin   Contributions for the above events can be found on on the Answers page Free days are Thursday & Friday. Exceptions are when a 7 day sesshin ends and the following day is a free day. No scheduled activities the week following the Winter Ango (March) the Summer Ango (late August) and during the Christmas Holidays between 23 - 26 December Terug naar Nederlandse pagina