Interview with Tenkei Roshi


A seven part interview with Tenkei Roshi, who was interviewed by Rev. Xianqing, deputy abbot of the Longquan Great Compassion Monastery 龍泉大悲寺 in China.
The interview took place during the festive opening of the Longquan Great Compassion Temple in Utrecht last year. Click here to read it on their website.

Funeral ceremony for Koren Sensei


The funeral ceremony for Koren Sensei was very moving; she obviously had touched the hearts of many people.



Half of her ashes were buried in the Buddha grove behind the Zendo; The other half Gakudo Sensei will bury at Keiryuji in the Pyrenees.

Wedding Ceremony for Kim Jinkei Millenaar & Bart Genko Oosting


Congratulations to Kim Jinkei Millenaar & Bart Genko Oosting, who made their wedding vows during a special wedding ceremony officated by Tenkei Roshi at Zen River. Congratulations! (Photo: 'De Bekroning')

Jukai Ceremony for Reinier Kaido Nummerdor


Congratulations to Reinier Kaido (開道 Open Way) Nummerdor, who received Jukai on September 24, 2016

Visit Shunsei-san and Tomoko-san from Mantokuji


Shunsei-san, who stayed at Zen River two years ago, came to visit wwith his mother Tomoko-san. Their family temple is Mantokuji located in Aichi Prefecture, Japan

Lay Shuso Hossenshiki for Joost Fushin Blom


Congratulations to Joost Fushin Blom, who completed the shusohossenshiki ceremony with flying colours!



In Memoriam Anjo Koren Kasman (1956–2016)

We are very sad to announce that our dearest Anjo Koren Kasman Sensei departed from this world on Monday August 22. Her Dharma name Koren means ‘Shining Lotus’ and we have all seen how she manifested that quality beautifully, even when she had to face a slowly progressing but incurable form of cancer. In fact, just a few weeks ago she said that there was a certain clarity in her mind that she knew would never go. We pray that she may have a swift passage to her next destination.

Guest speaker Rev. Yusho Sasaki


Rev. Yusho Sasaki gave a very interesting lecture on the legend and myth of the Sixth Patriarch.


Family Week


Family Week concluded with a lovely song & dance performance by the children, with the painting exhibition as a backdrop.


Third Asian Festival of Buddhist Culture, Thailand


Robert Doin vd Roer was present at the Festival in Chiang Mai, Thailand. He was invited to do a short chant during this Buddhist Culture Festival.

Visit Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams


Thanks to the invitation of Ciska Matthes, Zen River was happy to welcome Rev. Angel Kyodo Williams.
Rev. Angel gave an inspiring talk about her work and writings.


Brush Workshop with Kaz Tanahashi, June 10-12 2016











Seminar Retreat with Hojo-san, Yamamoto Roshi & Azuma Roshi




Hojosan officiated the eye-opening for the new effigies of Dogen Zenji and Keizan Zenji

Lecture by Azuma Roshi

Teisho by Yamamoto Roshi

Azuma Roshi presented with a small gift of delft blue at the end of his visit

Jukai Ceremony


Marijke Ringu凛宮 (Dignified Palace) van de Meent, Deasy Junrei 純 霊 (Pure Spirit) Sanchez, Michiel Juten 受展 (Receive and Spread) van den Berge, Eelco Shido 志道 (Determination for the Way) Prak,
Tilmann Shuken修権 (Mastering Balance) Kraemer, Rombout Kengan 賢 眼 (Wisdom Eye) Schipper, Karel Taiho 泰宝(Peace Treasure) Eringa

Buddha Bathing Festival & Conference at Longquan Great Compassion Monastery, Utrecht


May 17, 2016 - Senko Sensei, Shorin and Shinýu joined the first Buddha Bathing ceremony held at the Chinese Buddhist Temple in Utrecht

Senko Sensei gave a short presentation of the activities at Zen River Temple

The New Garden Shed


May 2, 2016: Making use the of the dry weather, all hands were on deck to paint the new garden shed

Jukai Ceremony and Sakura Spring Sesshin 2016


At the end of Sakura Spring Sesshin, after Jukai ceremony, April 27th, 2016

Congratulations to Kim Jinkei (仁恵 Loving Kindness) Millenaar and Bart Genko (玄光 Black Light) Oosting on receiving Jukai

Zazenkai Madrid


Thursday Public talk at Como Sur, Madrid - "How To Live A Zen Life"

Saturday Zazenkai with Zen River Madrid Group

Spring Renovations


The beautiful new garden shed, which is the realisation of the fall fundraiser, arrived this week. Many thanks to all who contributed!

Peter and Robert assist the carpenter with bringing up the roof tiles

A new outside door for the new-wing and a new window for the kaisando (below) with new concrete lintel were installed this week by De Boer





The rooms in the new wing are now graced with a new desk and chair, radiator, large closet and a new electric socket by the bed

The roundabout in front of the building gets a new look. (April 25th and it's cold and hailing outside!)

Visit Roshis Chozen and Hogen


Roshis Chozen and Hogen (front right), leaders of Great Vow Monastery in Oregan, came to visit Zen River. Both gave very inspiring teisho!

Zuisse


Jifu successfully completed Zuisse ceremonies at Sojiji and Eiheiji before continuing on to Kirigayaji and Toshoji. Congratulations!

Happy as a Bee


After a difficult winter, including a strong treatment to rid them of a fungal infection, the bees are back to good health and are off the prayer list.

Taking out the tree stump


Gert and Marcellous use a rented router to remove the old tree stump from the roundabout. The roundabout will receive a make-over these coming weeks!

Garden Shed Foundation


Laying the paving ahead of the arrival of the new garden shed

New Happy Rescue Chickens


Three new white rescue chickens arrived last week. They are happy in their new garden!

Buddhist Preacher System: Promotes Buddhism in New Era


Click here to read an Interesting document sent to us by Rev George Lin, one of our friends from the Liuzu Temple in China.

Getting Prepared for the New Garden Shed


The old garden shed is down; the new one will arrive in the course of next month.

Bye Bye Old Radiators from New Wing


The new radiators have been installed the new wing bedrooms

The motley assortment of old radiators ready to go

Shuso Hossenshiki Concludes Winter Ango


Yusho Sasaki Roshi, the new Sokan of the European Soto office was Jokeshi at the Hossenshiki for Thijs Shin'yu Roest.

Shuso Shin'yu Roest carries the sanbo with the koan text (Hekiganroku case 11) that he used for an exhilarating talk and dharma combat.

Yusho Sasaki Roshi with Zen River Sangha, family and friends

Rev. Yusho Sasaski


The evening before Hossenshiki Yusho Sasaki Roshi gave a wonderful and inspiring dharma talk.

Jukai Ceremony, February 10


Tessa Gyosei 暁星 (morning star) Overbeek received jukai from Tenkei Roshi. Congratulations!

Chinese New Years Seminar at the Lonquan Buddhist Temple, Utrecht


Tenkei Roshi was invited to join the Chinese New Years celebrations and give a presentation at the seminar

Tenkei Roshi with Ton Lathouwers, the leader of Maha Karuna Ch’an in the Netherlands

First Young Rivers Weekend


January 30-31, 2016

Farewell Grey Chicken


The old grey chicken quietly passed away the other night. She was born at Zen River about 12 years ago and spent her days foraging the garden.
May she have a swift passage to the other shore

Senko's article published in Sojiji magazine

Here is an article by Senko Sensei on the Gasan Joseki memorial ceremonies in Sojiji published in the Sojiji magazine in Japanese translation.

Hojo-san gives Shiho to Shugetsu


Hojo-san gave Shiho (Dharma Transmsission) to Ingrid Shugetsu Appels in Kirigayaji. Congratulations to both of you!

In Memoriam Rev. Shobo Kono


Kono-san pictured left of Tenkei Roshi at the Shinsanshiki Ceremony in 2003

We are sad to announce that our dear Japanese friend Rev. Shobo Kono passed away last Saturday in a Tokyo hospital after a long illness. Kono-san is a dharma successor of Hojo-san, and was his close assistant for many years. He also often helped out Tenkei and Myoho when they lived at Kirigayaji in 2000, and played an indispensable role in the Shinsanshiki ceremony at Zen River in 2003. Kono-san was a quiet man blessed with a great sense of dry humor; his quick-witted terse responses easily provoked laughter. Dear Kono-san, we’ll miss you and wish you a safe passage to the other shore.



Kono-san (far left) during a trip to China

Cold Spell


After a warm December, January brought a few days of icy rain to the Northern parts of The Netherlands

Winter 2016
January 9 Hengelo, "Zen in Twente" led by Doin Sensei
January 22–24 Weekend Sesshin
January 30–31 'Young Rivers' Weekend
February 6 Intro Zazenkai
February 7 & 8 Madrid, Sangha Gathering with Myoho Sensei
February 13–20 Ango Closing Sesshin
February 20 Shuso Hossenshiki for Thijs Shin'yu Roest
Spring 2016
March 5 Hengelo, "Zen in Twente" led by Senko Sensei
March 12 Düsseldorf, Zazenkai led by Daishin Sensei
March 18–20 Weekend Sesshin
April 2–3 Nijmegen, Weekend Sesshin 'Zengroep Oshida' led by Senko Sensei
April 16 Hengelo, "Zen in Twente" led by Senko Sensei
April 16 Madrid Zazenkai led by Tenkei Roshi
April 23–28, 5 nights Sakura Spring Sesshin
Summer 2016
MAY 20–AUGUST 29 SUMMER ANGO
May 20–24 May Seminar Retreat

with Azuma Roshi & Yamamoto Roshi
May 27 Hengelo, "Zen in Twente" led by Senko Sensei
June 4 Intro Zazenkai
June 10–12 Calligraphy Workshop with Kaz Tanahashi
June 16 Teisho Den Haag
June 24–26 Weekend Sesshin
June 25 Hengelo, "Zen in Twente" led by Senko Sensei
July 3 Lecture by Angel Kyodo Williams
July 16–21 Family Week
July 30–August 27 Summer Month Long Sesshin
July 30–August 4 Part One
August 6–11 Part Two
August 13–18 Part Three
August 20–27 Part Four
August 27 Shuso hossenshiki
September 1–9 No Scheduled Activites
Fall 2016
September 10 Hengelo, "Zen in Twente" led by Jifu Sensei
September 17 Zazenkai
September 23–25 Weekend Sesshin
October 1-2 Nijmegen, Weekend Sesshin 'Zengroep Oshida' led by Jifu Sensei
October 3 Düsseldorf, Zazenkai led by Daishin Sensei
October 22–27 Autumn Jukai Sesshin
November 5 Zen River Lima Opening Ceremony by Hojo-san
November 11–13 Jukai, Conference, Zazenkai in Lima (Peru)
November 17 Teisho Den Haag
Winter 2016-2017
NOV. 19 - FEB. 18, 2017 WINTER ANGO
November 19 - 26 Rohatsu Sesshin
November 20 Talk by Sojun Watanabe Roshi
December 3, 10 & 17 Telecourse @ Two Arrows Zen
December 9–11 Shiho Ranka de Hullu
December 10–11 Seminar by Taigen Leighton
December 27- January 1 2017 New Year Sesshin