About the London Zen Group
Zazen at the Highbury Dojo
The Group
The London Zen Group meets every day at one of four locations in London to practise zazen - traditional, Soto Zen, seated meditaiton.
Taisen Deshimaru Roshi
The focus our practice is zazen, and kinhin (slow, concentrated walking meditation)
Additionaly, we also practise ceremony (chanting, bowing etc. - after each zazen), samu (work practice - at organised times), sewing (the sewing of rakusus or kesas for those seeking to receive ordination), oryoki (formal meals), zen days (day-long retreats / all-day sittings) and have several social events each year including picnics and movie nights.
We are affiliated with the Association Zen Internationale based in France and founded by Zen Master Taisen Deshimaru as well as with, The International Zen Association United Kingdom (IZAUK) with headquarters in Bristol and composed of all the AZI affiliated groups in the UK.
The Facilitators
The London Zen Groups are all facilitated by experienced practitioners. Some have received the precepts / bodhisattva ordination as lay-ordained practitioners, while others have received the Tokudo Ordination, and are Zen Monks or Nuns. All of the facilitators of the London Zen Groups do so on a voluntarily basis.
Buddhism, Zen and Soto Zen
Buddhism was founded in India sometime around the 5th century BC by Siddhartha Gautama (Shakyamuni) later known as The Buddha (the enlightened one). Among the Buddha's teachings are the ideas of non-self, that suffering exists, has a cause and can be ended. It is said that the Zen school began when the Buddha was giving a public talk, and instead of talking, simply held up a flower and turned it in his hand. Alone among his disciples, the Venerable Mahakashyapa smiled, showing the Buddha that he had understood "the subtle dharma gate that does not rest on words or letters".
Skipping forward 1000 years (5th - 6th century AD) and the semi-mythical monk Bodhidharma is credited for bringing the Zen(Chan) school of Buddhism to China. In China, Soto Zen took form, in part through influence from masters such as 9th century AD teacher Tozan Ryokai.
In the 13th Century, the Japanese monk Eihei Dogen travelled to China to study Chan under the master Tendo Nyojo, Soto Zen is the school of Zen Buddhism founded by Master Dogen upon his return to Japan. It was firmly established by Zen Master Keizan Jokin in the late 13th and early 14th century.
Traditionally, Soto Zen emphasises the practice of zazen - shikantaza, wholehearted upright sitting.
"The zazen I speak of is not a meditation technique. It is simply the dharma gate of joyful ease, the practice-realization of complete enlightenment. It is the koan realized; traps and snares can never reach it."
~ Zen Master Eihei Dogen Zenji - 1200-1253
Zazen Days and Sesshins
Several times per year, the London Zen Group hosts a zazen day (1 day sitting, day-long retreat)where we invite one of our Teachers from France, or one of the elder monks or nuns from the UK, to come and lead our practice.
Several times per year, IZAUK organises longer sesshins (1.5 - 7 day retreats) at various locations in the UK.
Within the UK, there are often other events organised by UK groups such as zazen mornings, and opportunities to practice the sewing of rakusus and kesas. You can check our calendar of events for information on all forthcoming events which we think may be of interest to the London Sangha, or you can check the IZAUK website calendar of events, to see all events nationwide.
Internationally, there are many events held across Europe throughout the year. These include the Summer Sessions (9 day practice retreats) held at our main Temple of La Gendronnèire. Check the AZI Website for further information on these.
"True Zen means sitting quietly in the right posture. Zen means setting the mind at rest, concentrating intuition and reasoning together. Zen is not some special state, it is our normal condition, silent, peaceful, awake, without agitation"
~ Zen Master Taisen Deshimaru 1914 - 1982
Other events
The London group may also organise other practice events during the year, in the past we have held 1/2 days, evenings, and all-night sittings (for Rohatsu) - keep your eye on the calendar of events to see what's forthcoming