Weekend Online Zazenkai with Keizan Roshi & Shinro Sensei
This weekend training period will run from 7pm, Friday 12th to 9am, Monday 15th February and will follow the schedule of a typical sesshin with extended zazen, interviews with teachers, dharma talks and services.
It is suitable for beginners who have attended an introductory session, and for seasoned practitioners. Please see the Retreats and Events page for further details, cost and bookings.
Stonewater Spring Sesshin Online
7pm, Sunday, 28th March to 9am,Friday, 2nd April.
Due to the ongoing concerns about the pandemic, this year’s Spring Sesshin will also take place online. Please see the Retreats and Events page for further details, cost and bookings.
Sangha Posts
Sesshins: Exhaling and Inhaling – Sarah Kokai Thwaites

Roshi – A Diary, Zen Mountain Center August 2005
As part of a series of posts about sesshin gathered for the StoneWater Zen newsletter, here Roshi shares a very condensed diary of three...A Chan Retreat – Jez Yushin Lovekin
One of Roshi’s recent talks where he asked us to talk about our difficulties with zazen reminded me of a retreat I did with...Crosby Sesshin, Now and Then – John Suigen Kenworthy

My Sesshin moment: a realisation – Guro Shoshin Huby

Writing as Practice – Karen Shoji Robbie
I’ve tried quite a few things to keep sane in the last seven weeks. I felt optimistic when lockdown started. A honeymoon phase. I...This is where we invite you, the Sangha members, to contribute your short articles on your experiences, ideas or readings that you feel will interest others. Send these direct to the webmaster, Andy Scott, or via the contact page. Posts will be linked and publicised in general mailings, Facebook and Twitter. Comments may be made on the StoneWater Zen Facebook page or via Twitter, or via the webmaster if you don’t use social media.
We are a Zen Buddhist organisation in the lineage of Taizan Maezumi Roshi. StoneWater Zen Sangha has a traditional, authentic lineage and has been established in Liverpool for over fifteen years. The Sangha is growing and there are now groups across the UK.
The group is led by Dr David Keizan Scott Roshi and is affiliated to the White Plum Asanga.
We provide the facilities for traditional Zen training throughout the week. See our Liverpool schedule for details.
Every year we have two sesshin at Crosby Hall and regular retreats at our zendo in the Lake District. See our events page for details.
We are a warm and friendly group and beginners are always very welcome.
Mission Statement
StoneWater Zen Sangha is founded on the teachings of the Soto Zen tradition. Its aim is to promote and develop the practice and transmission of Zen Buddhism through meditation, study, precepts, Buddhist psychology and stewardship of meditation centres that are open to all regardless of gender, race or sexuality.
Our teachers and senior monks offer a regular weekly meditation schedule, several intensive retreats annually, and maintain city centre and rural training centres locally and nationally.
“It is our wish to promote compassion and understanding for life as it is.
May penetrating light dispel the darkness of ignorance.
May we realise the Buddha Way together.”
StoneWater Zen Centre Liverpool
During the pandemic we have closed the Liverpool Centre and moved our sittings online. The schedule of Online Zendo sessions is set out below.
All the sessions include 2 periods of zazen with a short break. The Wednesday and Thursday evening sittings, and the Saturday morning sittings, include talks by Keizan Roshi and the four hoshi teachers Shinro, Suigen, Tanzan and Hogen, and other guest speakers. The Wednesday evening sitting includes a short service.
We also offer online Introductory classes and interviews with teachers by arrangement. See SWZ Online for further information..
Monday morning
7.00am start – finish at 8.10am
Tuesday morning
7.00am start – finish at 8.10am
(Evening Sitting)
7.00pm start - finish at 8.45pm
Wednesday morning
7.00am start – finish at 8.10am
(Evening Sitting)
7.00pm start - finish at 9pm
Thursday morning
7.00am start – finish at 8.10am
(Evening Sitting)
7.00pm start - finish at 9pm
Friday morning
7.00am start – finish at 8.10am
Saturday morning
9.15 start - finish at 11am.