On The Move

 

Zoetermeer, August 3, 2001

Dear Friends,

First of all we would like to thank everyone for the enthusiastic response to our last update. Many people seem to be excited about the property we found in Groningen and would like to support us in setting up an international Zen centre of the White Plum and Kanzeon lineage on that location. Quite a few members of our Sangha have actually visited the place and they all loved it.

The prospects for buying the property are looking good, although some patience is called for. It turns out that this unique building can only be vacated by November 2002. This, we believe, is actually in our advantage. Although the price of the building is surprisingly low - $500.000 (including the inventory!) – it still presents Zen River with quite a financial challenge. So we can only be happy there is no rush. We hope to be ready to sign a contract this November and to use the following year preparing a residential programme. This allows us to grow into the new situation quietly without the immediate burden of monthly mortgage payments.

In order to facilitate this process Zen River decided to move up north already. From mid-September on we will rent a spacious home in the village of Holwierde, not far from the property we hope to purchase. In this house we can start to operate as a small Zen-community, follow a daily practice schedule and welcome guests. It will serve as a stepping-stone towards our goal. From Holwierde we can also easily explore the city of Groningen and the surrounding area. In the meantime sesshins in The Netherlands and abroad will continue as usual. The plan is to include regular visits to the Den Haag area to stay in touch with those members who have been supporting Zen River Dojo.

There is also some interesting news from Soto Headquarters in Japan. Apparently new efforts are being made to improve their relationship with the Western Zen community. Genpo Roshi has been invited to officiate an important memorial service for Dogen Zenji in Japan, which is a great honor. Also, registration for monks is made easier and the Haito-ceremony that I was allowed to perform in Soji-ji and Eihei-ji last year will get official status. We are very happy with these developments, since we have always hoped to maintain a good connection with the Japanese tradition.

As a personal friend, we will host Rev. Koichi Isoda in October. He is the young abbot of a temple closeby Fuji-dera, where Tammy and I stayed last year. Koichi-san has never been to the West before and is very curious to see our style of Zen training.

Last but not least, Hojo-san – the brother of Maezumi Roshi and our untiring host in Japan – will visit us again in Zoetermeer. On September 13, the same evening Genpo Roshi will give a talk in Zen River Dojo, Hojo-san will perform the Eye-opening ceremony for the statue he donated to us. We are planning to conclude with a big party!

Many greetings and gassho,

Tenkei Coppens