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FIND YOUR PLACE OF PRACTICE IN EUROPE
To begin practising Zen and Zen meditation, we recommend that you contact one of the centres affiliated to the International Zen Association, Europe's leading Zen Buddhist organisation.
There you can talk to monks, nuns and senior practitioners who will guide you. These people have themselves learned zazen from masters or former disciples of Master Deshimaru over many years. The transmission of the teaching "i shin den shin", i.e. from person to person without interruption since the Buddha, is a key element of Buddhist spirituality. Each teacher has acquired a teaching that goes back 2,500 years, and each place of practice has a referent who vouches for the practice in that place.
Most dojos regularly organise sessions specifically for beginners. After that, the principle of Zen is to bring together beginners and experienced practitioners in a spirit of mutual sharing and enrichment. Even after decades of practice, a practitioner who is in harmony with the moment retains the fresh and open mind of a beginner.
The Association Zen Internationale lists numerous places of practice throughout Europe, which are categorised as follows:
- Temple and monastery: place of practice recognised by the Sôtô Zen School, directed by a Kyoshi, a teacher from the Sôtô School. The monasteries welcome permanent residents as well as retreatants who come for several days or even several weeks.
- Zen centre: a place of practice with a regional influence, run by a Kyoshi.
- Dojo: a place dedicated to the practice of Zen, run by a confirmed monk or nun who practises with a master.
- Group: a place offering the possibility of practising zazen.
- Correspondent: local contact.
