NEWS

TRANSITION TO SAIKENJI ATHENS

Zen Center Athens

Dear practitioners and members of Zen Center Athens, We want to inform you that as of Sunday, 15th of December, the Center will be operating permanently at the Saikenji Athens Temple, 76 – 80 Agisilaou Street, Athens. Below you will find all the information about: The zazen programs that will be conducted during December. The new enriched yoga program and the schedule during the holiday season. General operating instructions for the new Center. ZAZEN Rohatsu Sesshin @ Saikenji Japan, December 1 – 5 From December 1 to 5, seventeen members from our Sangha travelled to Japan, visited the Saikenji Temple…

More

KAISANJI YOGA & ZEN RETREATS MARCH – MAY – OCTOBER 2025

YOGA AND ZEN RETREATS ΣΤΗ ΣΕΡΙΦΟ 2025 ANANDA RETREAT, 25 – 31 ΜΑΡΤΙΟΥ 2025 SANTOSHA RETREAT, 25 – 31 ΜΑΪΟΥ 2025 KARUNA RETREAT, 25 – 31 ΟΚΤΩΒΡΙΟΥ 2025   Η ΓΗ Μία από τις μεγαλύτερες ανάγκες του ανθρώπου είναι να βρίσκεται σε επαφή με τη Φύση. Μέσα σε ένα φυσικό περιβάλλον και μακριά από τους φρενήρεις ρυθμούς της πόλης, μπορούμε να βιώσουμε βαθιά μεταμόρφωση και επανασύνδεση με τον αληθινό Εαυτό. Τα Yoga & Zen Retreats πραγματοποιούνται στο Kaisanji, στην περιοχή Καλό Αμπέλι, στο νότιο μέρος του νησιού, που παραμένει παρθένο από μαζικό τουρισμό και μεγάλες ξενοδοχειακές εγκαταστάσεις. ΤΟ ΟΡΑΜΑ Μια…

More

ZEN DAYS – ONE DAY RETREATS IN ZEN CENTER ATHENS

THE UPCOMING DATES FOR 2024 ARE: November 17 – December 15 The dates are subject to change. Please check this page and the Calendar regularly to keep up to date. During a typical Zen Day (10:00 – 18:00) we have 6 Zazen periods with Kinhin (meditative walking) in between, and a discussion amongst practitioners. You should arrive at Zen Center strictly by 10:10. After zazen starts, and once the door to Zendo is closed, you will not be able to enter. The lunch break takes place at Zen Center in silence and is a part of the practice and the…

More

ZEN DAY, SUNDAY 17.11.2024

  Dear Sangha, The upcoming Zen Day will take place on Sunday, November 17, from 10:00 to 18:00, at the temporary location of the Center, DAN.C.CE, 76 Pireos Avenue, 3rd floor. The program includes six sittings with Kinhin in between (meditative walking) and lunch. Please note that the Zen Day is a form of intensive practice, and you must have the appropriate experience to participate. Please arrive at the venue strictly by 10:10. After zazen begins, and once the door to the room is closed, you cannot enter. The lunch break will take place in the practice area in silence. Due…

More

START OF COURSES, SEPTEMBER 2024

  Αγαπητή Sangha, Θα θέλαμε να σας ενημερώσουμε ότι τα προγράμματα του Κέντρου (Ζαζέν και Γιόγκα) θα συνεχίσουν να φιλοξενούνται προς το παρόν στο DAN.C.CE (Πειραιώς 76, 3ος όροφος). Από 1η Σεπτεμβρίου το πρόγραμμα διαμορφώνεται ως εξής: Ζαζέν Δευτέρα έως και Κυριακή: 8:00 πμ – 9:00 πμ Σάββατο και Κυριακή: 8:00 μμ – 9:00 μμ Γιόγκα Τετάρτη και Παρασκευή: 9:30 πμ – 11:00 πμ Τρίτη (μόνο διαδικτυακά): 5:15 μμ – 6:15 μμ (γιόγκα νίντρα) και 6:30 μμ – 8:00 μμ Σάββατο: 5:15 μμ – 6:15 μμ (γιόγκα νίντρα) και 6:30 μμ – 8:00 μμ Τα μαθήματα γιόγκα στις 11 και…

More

THE GREATEST LESSON OF LIFE 8.7.2024

  Dear friends of Zen Center Athens, Thank you for your messages and concern about the fire that broke out in Serifos and affected the whole southern part of the island. We want to let you know that we are all well and moving on. The damage caused by the fire to some of the buildings will be repaired. Nature, of course, will take its time to heal and all we can do is do nothing and simply accept the natural flow of things. This event proves once more that everything changes, that the circle of life is bigger than…

More

THE HISTORY OF ZEN, INTERVIEW WITH KONSTANTINOS SGOUMPOPOULOS ON ERT.GR

  Dear members of Zen Center Athens, in the following link you can listen (in greek) to the interview given by Konstantinos Sgoumbopoulos, founder of Zen Center Athens, to Marilena Katsimi, during the program “Historical Walks”, Ert.gr Historical Walks: the history of Zen | 25.05.2024 Enjoy the listening!   With respect, Zen Center Athens  

More

ZEN DAY, SUNDAY 26.05.2024

  Dear Sangha of Zen Center Athens, The upcoming Zen Day will take place on Sunday, May 26, from 10:00 to 18:00, at the temporary location of the Center, DAN.C.CE, 76 Pireos Avenue, 3rd floor. The program includes six sittings with Kinhin in between (meditative walking) and lunch. Please note that the Zen Day is a form of intensive practice, and you must have the appropriate experience to participate. Please arrive at the venue strictly by 10:10. After zazen begins, and once the door to the room is closed, you cannot enter. The lunch break will take place in the practice area in silence.…

More

HAPPY EASTER!

  Dear members and practitioners of Zen Center Athens, We would like to inform you that the Center’s classes will be temporarily suspended due to the Easter holiday from Good Friday, May 3 to Easter Tuesday, May 7. Zazen will be held as scheduled until Monday, May 6. From May 7 to May 12 the zazen will not take place , because of the Sesshin in Kaisanji. Classes will resume on Easter Wednesday, May 8. Please note that yoga classes on May 8 and 10 will be held online only. We wish you a Happy Resurrection and a Happy Easter!…

More

ZEN DAY SUNDAY 17.3.24

Dear Sangha of Zen Center Athens, The next Zen Day will take place on Sunday 17 March from 10:00 to 18:00, at the new temporary space of the Center, at DAN.C.CE, 76 Pireos Avenue, 3rd floor. The program includes 6 sessions with intermediate Kinhin (meditative walking) and lunch. Please note that Zen Day is a form of intensive practice and you must have experience to participate. Please arrive at the venue strictly by 10:10. After the zazen begins and once the door to the room is closed, you will not be able to enter. The lunch break will take place…

More

OPENING THE HAND OF THOUGHT – HESTIA PUBLICATIONS AND ZEN CENTER ATHENS (GREEK)

OPENING THE HAND OF THOUGHT KOSHO UCHIYAMA Translation – prologue: HARIS MITSOURAS “When we let go of all our preconceptions, there is no other possible reality than the one that exists right now. […] This undeniable reality is the reality of life, which is fundamentally connected to everything in the universe. Therefore, it is the right now that matters most. Remaining in the here and now, in reality itself, letting go of all the things that randomly appear in our minds, is what I mean by ‘opening the hand of thought’.” Very few texts delve as deeply into Zen philosophy…

More

ZEN DAY & KOTEN ROSHI ONLINE DHARMA TALK 21.1.2024 

Dear Zen Center Athens Sangha, The next Zen Day will take place on Sunday, 21 of January, from 10:00 to 18:00, at the Center’s new temporary location, at DAN.C.CE, Piraeus Avenue 76, 3rd floor. The program includes six zazen periods with Kinhin (meditative walking), in between, and lunchtime. We would like to remind you that Zen day is a form of intensive practice and you must have experience to participate. From 11:00 to 12:00 we will have the opportunity to connect with and listen to Koten Roshi’s Dharma talk, right after which there will be enough time for questions. Please note that the platform room will only be open during the Dharma…

More