Zazen Saikenji Temple, Japan Saikenji is a Buddhist temple located in Hamamatsu city, 252 km outside Tokyo. The monastery’s temple was built in 1480. The name of the temple (loosely translated) means, the point from where you can see the West, that is, where India is, the land where the Buddha was born and is the land of Pure Paradise. In Saikenji you can practice zazen and the formula of the teaching is expressed as follows: becoming one with everything in the world. The abbot of the monastery is called Kothen Roshi and he has visited us several times in…

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The next Zen Day will take place on Sunday, 19th of February 2023. We will have 6 zazen periods with Kinhin (meditative walking) in between, and a discussion amongst practitioners. During Zen Day we will have the opportunity to connect with and listen to Koten Roshi’s Dharma talk from 11:00 to 12:00. Please note that the platform room will be open only during the discussion. Zen Center members will receive the Zoom link with our newsletter. Make sure to arrive to Zen Center strictly by 10:10. After zazen starts at 10:20 you will not be able to enter. The lunch break takes place at Zen…

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Dear friends of Zen Center Athens, The next introductory Zen class will take place on Tuesday, February 7, 19:30 – 21:00. At Zen Center Athens we practice Zen because we believe it is beneficial for all people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or social class. In Zen, you don’t add anything, nor do you take anything away; you simply experience wholeness. For more information & registration please contact us at [email protected]

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Antaratma & Adi Shakti kirtan band Saturday 21st of January, 17:30 – 19:30. Kirtan is powerful yogic practice. It combines mantra chanting with music and rhythm, with a profound effect on the emotional level. Kirtan has its roots in the Vedic tradition and is a “call and response” song type. The term kirtan means “narrate” or “describe” and refers to the repetition of melodic mantras, accompanied by musical instruments and the response of those present. ​Mantra means: “That which broadens the mind and perception.” What is unique about kirtan: ​ The uniqueness of the kirtan lies in the creation of…

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Dear friends of Zen Center Athens. The first introductory Zen class of the year will take place on Tuesday, January 10, 19:30 – 21:00. At Zen Center Athens we practice zazen because we believe it is beneficial for all people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, religion or social class. In Zen, you don’t add anything, nor do you take anything away; you simply experience wholeness. For more information & registration please contact us at [email protected]  

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Every asana is a gateway to the earth and sky. This is a reality, a seemingly simple fact, but at the same time, it is a truth that constantly eludes us. Vanda Scaravelli has studied yoga in depth over a long period of time and has come to some highly fundamental conclusions. We will work on these conclusions by asking the right, pertinent questions and not looking for easy answers. THE TEACHER Alexandra Sotiropoulou has been practising yoga since 1996 and teaching since 2003. She was trained in the systems of Satyananda and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. She studied with Diane Long, a close…

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Dear friends. We invite you to this series of events with kirtan and meditative music. With Antaratma & Adi Shakti. The next dates are: 19/2, 19:30 – 21:30 18/3, 17:30 – 19:30 Participation: 10 euros For registration please email us at [email protected]  

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Dear Zen Center Athens Sangha, We inform you that the next Zen Day will take place on Sunday, 18th of September, from 10:00 to 18:00. The program includes six zazen periods with Kinhin (meditative walking) in between, and lunchtime. During the Zen Day of September, there will be no Dharma Talk with Koten Roshi. Instead, in this Zen Day we will read chapters 6.14 to 6.17 from the book Shobogenzo – zuimonki which you can download here. (On the Audiovisual Material page you can watch the previous dharma talks.) Regarding your participation Please, arrive at the Zen Center strictly by…

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Dear Zen Center Athens Sangha, We inform you that the next Zen Day will take place on Sunday, 17th of July, from 10:00 to 18:00. The program includes six zazen periods with Kinhin (meditative walking) in between, and lunchtime. During the Zen Days of July and August, there will be no Dharma Talks with Koten Roshi. Instead, in this Zen Day we will read chapters 6.8, 6.9 & 6.10 from the book Shobogenzo – zuimonki which you can download here. Regarding your participation Please, arrive at the Zen Center strictly by 10:10. After zazen starts, and once the door to…

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Dear friends and members, we inform you that the program “Introduction to Zen” that was scheduled for the 5th of July is postponed. The new date is Tuesday, 12th of July 2022.  For more information regarding our weekly schedule, please visit our calendar. Thank you for your understanding.

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