Courses and Workshops

Taking your place – establishing joy and peace right where you are
Zen practice for all people

Kaisanji, Serifos, Greece, November 1-7, 2024
In English

Nestled on a mountainside of Serifos island in the heart of the Aegean Sea, Kaisanji, the "temple between mountains and the sea", offers a singular opportunity to take your own place. Being present in the here and now lies at the core of Zen practice, and we at Akazienzendo invite you to participate in a special retreat to discover and actualize this place.

All are welcome, from beginners in meditation to seasoned practitioners, to join a six-day retreat that blends serenity with intensity, without being overwhelming.

Registration fee:
€540 (Covering basic costs)

Supporters:
€750 (Enables individuals with limited financial means to participate)


Past events

Richard Baker Roshi, Dharma Sangha
Equanimity and Silence - What is it?

A Weekend of Zen Practice

August 30th – September 1st, 2024

An event by Dharma Sangha and Akazienzendo, with kind support from Rigpa-Berlin

Venue:
Dharma Mati, Soorstraße 85, 14050 Berlin-Charlottenburg

Friday, August 30th, 7:30-9:30 PM, Talk, Q&A
Saturday, August 31st, 10 AM - 5 PM, Seminar
Sunday, September 1st, 7:30-9:30 PM, Concert

Hybrid (online and in-person)
English with German translation

Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi will be teaching and giving a concert in Berlin from August 30th to September 1st.
Baker Roshi, now 89 years old, is one of the most original and experienced Zen teachers of our time. With his vision and creative energy, he has supported generations of practitioners worldwide.

Equanimity and Silence - What is it?

Equanimity lies at the heart of Zen Buddhist practice - but what is it exactly? And silence: we may have a sense of what a silent mind feels like, but what constitutes this mind?

Sounds of Dharma

Musical Improvisations
with Richard Baker Roshi, Rüdiger Kurz, and Joss Turnbull

Baker Roshi will recite poetic verses and Dharma texts. He will be accompanied by the musicians Rüdiger Kurz (violone) and Joss Turnbull (tombak).


Marcia Lieberman
Lively Buddhas: How do we perform our practice every day?

May 10-12, 2024

Join us for a three-day workshop exploring the diverse expressions of Zen, with a particular focus on their manifestations each hour of the day. During our time together, we will engage in meditation, creative activity and expression, playful conversations, unconventional translations of Dogen, and what it means and how it is to be a lively Buddha.

Led by long-time San Francisco Zen Center practitioner and artist Marcia Lieberman, this seminar will explore the joy of our inner Buddha-nature and how we bring Buddhist teachings and practice into our daily lives.


From Warm Heart to Warm Heart
A Zen retreat for all people in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki
Kaisanji, Serifos, Greece, November 3-10, 2022

“Kind speech has the power to turn the destiny of a nation.“
—Dogen Zenji

All people are warmly invited to a Zen gathering in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki, founder of the San Francisco Zen Center. The retreat will take place at Kaisanji, a new Zen monastery on the beautiful island of Serifos, a project of Konstantinos Sgoumbopoulos, director of Zen Center Athens. Shunryu Suzuki's practice is best characterized in terms of kindness, appreciation and compassion.


Spaces of Belonging
Connection and healing in a temporary, urban refuge
with Amanda Rengetsu Haas Halim

December 3, 2022, 2–6pm

Register here: info@akazienzendo.de

Through the practices of sharing, caring, guided meditation (Zen-sitting and walking meditation) and relaxing Yin and Nidra Yoga, we will practice slowing down and resting in the here and now. With a receptive heart to perceive the quiet and safe space within ourselves. This can help us to become more resilient in these difficult times. Because only from a nourished self are we able to work sustainably for a just world, for all people, animals and nature.

Amanda Rengetsu Haas Halim is a Zen Buddhist lay nun, Yoga guide, graphic designer, writer, publisher and social activist. www.internalpractice.com, @internalpractice

Donation based

More information can be found here