After an extended period of zazen such as a one or two day zazenkai or a full week sesshin, a familiar question often pops up: How do I bring this experience and state of mind into my everyday life? We may have experienced a sense of wellbeing, peace, oneness, stillness during our sitting. We may […]
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John Suigen Kenworthy received Dharma Transmission (Shiho) from Keizan Roshi on 31st March 2021. Suigen Sensei is Roshi’s second successor after Shinro Sensei who received transmission in December 2020. Roshi conducted the ceremony at the Lakes Zendo with the assistance online of Hank Yoshin Sensei from the Netherlands. There was also meticulous support from Stephan […]
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In September and October we ran two online sesshins. The aim was to replicate, as far as possible, a physical sesshin, with extended sitting periods, interviews, work periods (samu) and services. There were also suggestions provided for meal preparation and other shared samu activities. The feedback for both these events was very positive. Whilst everyone […]
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I met Dogen Zenji once, late October by the river, the misting end of an Autumn day. He was ‘just sitting’, on a bench, looking west toward the distant mountains. A ship moved slowly upstream against the ebbing tide. “Do you suppose”, he said, “that it is the ship, the river or the mountains that […]
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Two events happened in my twenties which affected my life then and to some extent even now. The first was that my father died suddenly. He hadn’t been well for some time but we had just shared a relaxing family holiday in Scotland and we had even talked about climbing Ben Nevis when he was […]
Read more…Some would say I lead a full and rich life. I have a wonderful partner,a large, caring family, good friends, sufficient resources to live on. After 40 years of work, retirement has had its benefits – being in control of my time, being able to do what I want and indulge my whims. Inevitably patterns […]
Read more…Our newly published form guide.
Read more…Suigen at the June sesshin, Stonewater Lakes.
Read more…StoneWater sangha visit to Zen Mountain Centre Some places seem to be alive in the mind well before one ever makes the trip. These may be the great physical forms and structures of the world: the Grand Canyon, the Forbidden City, the Pyramids, the sort of destinations ‘Google Earth’ can zip you to, round and […]
Read more…Newcomers and lay retreat etiquette for sesshin
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