La Gendronnière

La Gendronnière is a 75-hectare estate in the forest bordering France’s Sologne region in the Loire Valley, 15 kilometers south of the town of Blois. With its natural setting and verdant grounds, it is an ideal place for zazen practice.

The acquisition of this estate was made possible by donations from disciples and practitioners. In 1979, Master Deshimaru founded a temple on the grounds "Tai Sei Bukkyo Dai Ichi Dojo", or the "First Great Western Dojo for Buddha’s Teaching" to create a center for the dissemination of Zen in Europe. To complement the 19th-century chateau and its existing outbuildings, he had his disciples construct a large dojo which holds up to 400 practitioners. An entirely new infrastructure (sanitary facilities, kitchen, sleeping quarters) was also built under his direction.

Today, La Gendronnière Temple is the meeting point for the large sangha represented by the International Zen Association. Hundreds of disciples of all ages and nationalities from very different walks of life come together here to practice zazen, ceremonies, and work for the community (samu), with great concentration, and to receive a teaching which will enable them to deepen their understanding of Buddha’s teaching. Many sesshin are organized here throughout the year.

In 2000, a small, ecological dojo was constructed, which serves as a practice space for the "Permanents" who live at the temple full-time. Living at La Gendronnière is a way to experience temple life. Here, beginners and long-time practitioners alike come to practice the Buddha-Way in every action in daily life, under the benevolent guidance of more experienced monks and nuns.