The term “Shukke Tokudo” translates to “Homeleaving Ordination”. It is the name for the ceremony to become a Zen monk. In our Zen lineage, living in a monastery is not mandatory. It is about living your life in the spirit of a Zen monk....
The Heart Sutra is perhaps the best-known sutra in Buddhism. But it is also quite a complicated text. What exactly does it say and what is the Heart Sutra about? Is it about a lemon pie?...
There are countless texts from old and new Zen teachers. Some texts are easier to understand than others. What can these texts teach us, and what do these teachers mean....
If you meditate in the tradition of Zen, then you are on the Zen path. But what does that expression mean? And how can teachers help you to find out what your path is...
“Why do you practice Zen? You could spend your time on something else. What’s the point of practicing Zen? Questions I used to ask myself regularly. Why am I actually doing this? And what does it bring me?...
How can Zen help a person appreciate their life. Not just during comfortable moments when enjoying a drink on a terrace in the sun, but also during uncertain times. Practicing mindfulness and gratitude can help you take the time to notice and savor the small joys and blessings in your daily life....
Many responses on my website are about my blog How it all started. The moment of disembodiment that I am writing about is very recognizable so it seems. Apparently more people experience these moments of questioning....
In 2001 I walked with my lunch on a tray in the company restaurant of one of the “big 4 firms”. Under the guise of “work hard – play hard” I was really “popping”, working more than 50 hours a week. And then, during that lunch, I got these burning questions in my head....
How to find your way to the Zen path? And what role did joy play in it. How can one discover joy in sitting? Jolinda van Hoogdalem, Bas Gemmink and me explore this joyful topic. We also talked about Chi Kung by the way…...
For me, it was a very profound and precious ceremony: I was honored to receive Denkai from Willem Scheepers on December 3, 2022. That day, as we bowed together in a ‘full bow’, head to head, holding each other’s hands strongly, I felt a very powerful presence....