Pierre Dôkan Crépon

Born in 1953, Pierre Crépon received the monk's ordination from Master Taisen Deshimaru in 1975. He became one of his close disciples and followed his teaching daily in the Paris Dojo and on various sesshin.

He participated in Master Deshimaru’s mission by becoming editor-in-chief of the IZA’s Zen magazine (1977-1987), by helping with the organization of summer camps and by leading sesshin. At the same time, he continued his university studies in archaeology and the history of religion, and later worked in the publishing field.

After Taisen Deshimaru’s death, he continued to practice in the IZA and became one of its leaders. In 1994, he settled in Vannes, Brittany, where he started a dojo. He made many trips to Japan and became the disciple of Master Shingan Egawa, kannin of Sojiji Temple, from whom he received Dharma transmission in 1998.

He was president of the Buddhist Union of France from 2003 to 2007.

Today he teaches in Brittany (Kokaiji Temple) and, as part of the IZA, at the Gendronnière Temple. He is a teacher (kyoshi) of the Sôtô School.

He has published several works on Buddhism and Zen both as an author (A Western Spiritual Dictionary, The Flowers of Buddha, Practice Zen, Stories and Parables of the Buddha) and a publisher (including the translation of Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo by Yoko Orimo).

He is currently President of the Association Zen Internationale.