Meditation retreat (Sesshin) of Spring for the broader Sangha - 2019

"The highest truth lies in the greatest simplicity." Zen-Master Taisen Deshimaru

Meditation retreat (Sesshin) of Spring for the broader Sangha

Tribute to master Deshimaru — From April 28 to May 1, 2019

The teaching will be translated into English.

Programm

dojo zen La Gendronnière

3.5-day meditation retreat (sesshin) including the AZI General Assembly.
Four zazen (zen meditation) per day, ceremonies, silent meals, community activities, and time for sharing.
- Arrival on the evening of April 27th
- Departure on May 1st after lunch and tidying up the temple

This retreat is also an opportunity to participate in the proper functioning of the temple: cooking, cleaning, vegetable gardening, collecting wood in the forest... These activities allow to prolong in the movement of daily life the concentration and tranquility of mind that characterize zazen and the ceremonies in the dojo.

The Zen temple of La Gendronnière was founded forty years ago, in 1979, by Master Deshimaru and his disciples gathered within the AZI. Today, this great sangha, made up of the different communities of monks, nuns and lay people who have been created over the years, is at the service of the future. The following events will be integrated into sesshin:
- Sunday 28 April, approx. 2.30 pm: General Assembly of the AZI
- Wednesday, May 1: Tribute ceremony to the founder of the place, who died in 1982, the Japanese master Taisen Deshimaru

For beginners

Beginners are welcome during this spiritual retreat. It is open to all, without any particular skills or experience in Zen or meditation. On the evening of arrival there will be a welcoming conference for the newcomers. During the whole retreat a monk or nun will be at the disposal of the beginners and will provide many explanations.

Download the booklet for newcomers : HERE

The teacher

Zen-Master Raphaël Doko Triet will be responsible for teaching during this retreat.
Disciple of master Deshimaru, to whom he was very close, Raphaël Doko Triet received the monk’s ordination in 1973 and the Dharma transmission from Master Okamoto in 1998. That same year, he created the Zen centre in Lisbon, Portugal.

He is now the abbot of Seikyuji Temple near Seville, Spain. He is one of the main leaders of the AZI and teaches during sesshin in Europe and especially at the Gendronnière temple.

The teaching will be translated into English.