Guest speakers

Dharma lectures from various traditions

Earlier Talks

Alan Lessik
Make the Dark Night Shine

Reading and Discussion

Tuesday, July 30th, 7:30-9:30 PM
hybrid (online and in person)

The reading will be held in English.

Alan Lessik will be reading from his new Zen novel Make the Dark Night Shine, which was inspired by his Aunt Nina Uchida´s family story.

On the surface, Make the Dark Night Shine appears to be a love letter from a father to the daughter he never met. Set between the two World Wars and taking place in Constantinople, Paris, Japan, New York and Clapham, the narrator is Kenzo Uchida, a gay diplomat turned Zen priest. Yet Lessik uses the novel to create his own interpretation of Eihei Dōgen´s  foundational work, the Genjō Kōan.  As does Dōgen, Lessik asks us to consider how we live the life we have, the life we were born into? Can we approach life with equanimity again and again? Can we recognize the harm we cause to ourselves and others as easily as we recognize the joy we bring? Kenzo, who uncovers the secrets of his family, a man trying to do the right thing, trying to be model to others, must constantly face the reality of not having the power to change the conditions in which he was born or the ability to change other people because he wants them to change. This quandary is most explicit in his vow to end all war, which remains strong even after he is arrested and the bombs from the German Blitz on London are falling on the city. 

  • Alan Lessik is a member of the Berlin Queer Writers Circle, Zen practitioner, amateur figure skater and LGBT activist. His debut novel The Troubleseeker was short-listed for the Publishing Triangle’s 2017 Ferro-Grumley Award for LGBTQ Fiction. With an interest in how novels preserve queer culture, he has been published on this and other topics by Lambda Literary, the Bay Area Reporter, and Advocate. He received Jukai from in 2013 from Kikū Hōetsu Christina Lehnherr at the San Francisco Zen Center and was an active member of the Center´s Queer Dharma team. Later, he became a teacher at the SF LGBTQ Sangha. He is currently a member of the Black Mountain Zen Centre in Belfast and leads Queer Meditation at the Village in Berlin.
    blog: alanlessik.com

Tova Green, Zen priest

Talk, questions and answers

Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Akazienzendo hybrid (in-person and Zoom)

In English with German translation

Tova Green has ben living and practicing at the San Francisco Zen Center for more than 23 years. Her commitment is primarily directed towards addressing issues of diversity, inclusion, and a sense of belonging. She is co-founder of the Queer Dharma group, and throughout the years, her concerns have revolved around bringing to light, acknowledging, and mitigating the suffering caused by sexism, racism, and various forms of structural inequality. Tova, now in her eighties, is making her second visit to Berlin and is eager to discuss fundamental aspects of her Zen understanding and practice and engage in conversation with us.

  • Tova Green, she/her, is a resident priest at San Francisco Zen Center. She was ordained in 2003 and received dharma transmission from Eijun Linda Cutts in 2015. Tova is the Branching Streams Director, supporting and connecting the 75+ Zen Centers and sanghas in the Suzuki Roshi lineage. She also writes blogs for SFZC’s online newsletter, Sangha News. Tova co-founded SFZC’s Queer Dharma group and has been involved in Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives during her twenty three years as a resident. She has worked with those who are approaching death as a hospice social worker and as a priest. Tova enjoys reading and writing poetry and playing the cello.

Seigaku Higuchi, Zen Priest
Talk, questions and answers

Thursday, September 28, 2023, 8:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Akazienzendo hybrid (in-person and Zoom)

How can Zen be adapted to the contemporary world? How can we live in harmony and respect for nature even within an urban environment? During this evening, Seigaku will share insights into his training as a Zen monk at Eiheiji, one of Japan's foremost Zen monasteries, as well as provide an overview of his ongoing projects. For many years, he has been living in a steadily expanding hresidential community, initially based in Berlin and now situated in Fukuoka, Japan. In the Prenzlauer Berg district in Berlin, he offered daily zazen practice for almost 10 years.

The fact that he, as a Zen priest in Japan, lives within a residential community rather than a temple, presents something truly remarkable. He will shed light on his daily life, elucidating how he balances living with his five children, his wife, his sister's family, and volunteers while upholding his role as a Zen priest.

  • Seigaku Higuchi is a Zen priest, father, author of several books on Zen, currently adjunct secretary of Soto Zen Europe; he served as tenzo (head cook) for the 100th Anniversary of Soto Zen North America celebration ceremony and precept ceremony.

    Website: http://unsui.net

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/undoinberlin

Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi in Berlin
English with German translation

An event by Dharma Sangha and Akazienzendo

Monday, July 24, 2023, 7.30-9.30 pm
Venue: Kühlhaus, Luckenwalder Str. 3, 10963 Berlin

'ORIGINAL MIND’ - An Ancient Teaching for Today

‘Original Mind‘, the basis of human experience, is a classic, pivotal Zen teaching.  But what does it really mean, in practice, in living? Is it different from consciousness, and if so, how is it experienced? How can it inform, even transform, our daily life and practice?

Let’s explore this together.

"Love and Anger. The path of liberation through anger"

Lama Rod Owens at Akazienzendo
Talk, meditation, and exchange. In English with German translation

April 24, 2023, 7.30 to 9.30 pm, Online
- Zoom of Akazienzendo

How can we deal with intense emotions, be embodied, and what does this have to do with the Buddhist practice for the liberation of all beings? In this event, Lama Rod Owens will introduce us to his approach to these topics. Through a talk, guided meditations, and sharing, we will have the opportunity to practice together and ask questions.

Lama Rod Owens is an author, activist, and authorized lama (Buddhist teacher) of the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. He co-founded Bhumisparsha, a Buddhist tantric practice and study community. Lama Rod is the author of "Love and Rage: The Path of Liberation Through Anger" and co-author of "Radical Dharma: Talking Race, Love, and Liberation."

Instagram @lamarodofficial | Twitter @LamaRod1 | www.lamarod.com

Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi

Thich Nhat Hanh: "To me, (Richard Baker) embodies very much the future of Buddhism in the West with his creative intelligence and his aliveness."


Dharma talk and Q&A (online: Zoom + in person)
October 25, 7–9 pm
English, with German translations

Awakening within the five senses

Akazienzendo is a small offspring of San Francisco Zen Center. The more so, we are very happy about Baker Roshi’s visit. It is his wish to meet the sangha, to offer some teachings, and to be in conversation.

During Baker Roshi’s visit we will present the handwritten version of “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind“, which members of the Akazienzendo sangha and Zen-Lab Leipzig (part of Dharma Sangha) created during the most difficult months of the pandemic.

7:00pm: Presentation of the handwritten copy of “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”

7:30pm: Baker Roshi’s talk, followed by Q&A

9:00pm: End of evening


Baker Roshi offers his teaching by donation. Suggested donation: 15€
Limited income should not stop anyone from attending.

  • Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi is undoubtedly one of the defining figures of Zen in the West. A dharma successor of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, he was the second abbot of San Francisco Zen Center from 1971 until 1983. With his vision and creative energy, Baker Roshi was instrumental in making Zen Center into one of the largest and most influential institution for Zen practice outside of Japan. Although the circumstances leading to his resignation as abbot in 1984 were difficult and complex, in recent years, there has been increased contact; a renewal of friendship and dharma relations. Baker Roshi emphasizes Zen's yogic teachings and the relevance of Zen to contemporary philosophical and social issues. He is the spiritual head of Dharma Sangha, with locations in Crestone, Colorado, and the Black Forest of Germany.

The event with David Loy is fully booked. If you are interested, please send us an email. If someone cancels, we will get back to you. Please click here to write to us. You can still join the public talk via Zoom.

David R. Loy at Akazienzendo

Zen-teacher and one of the founding members of the new Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center, near Boulder, Colorado will give a talk and hold a seminar at Akazienzendo on October 21, 22 and 23.

Public talk (online: Zoom + in person)
October 21, 7.30–9 pm

Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis

Seminar (in-person only)
October 22 , 9.00 am - 5.00 pm and
October 23, 9.00 am - 1.00 pm

The New Bodhisattva Path: Buddhism in a Dangerous Time

“A student asked the master, ‘What is the fruit of a lifetime of practice?’ The master replied, ‘Responding appropriately.’” Right now may be the most dangerous time in human history— The ecological crisis, in particular, is the greatest challenge that humanity has ever faced. How can Buddhist teachings and practices help us understand our situation and “respond appropriately” to the interconnected social and ecological crises confronting us today?

For more information click here.

English, with German translations

  • David Robert Loy is a professor, writer, and Zen teacher in the Sanbo Zen tradition of Japanese Zen Buddhism. David lectures on various topics, focusing primarily on the encounter between Buddhism and modernity: what each can learn from the other. He is especially concerned about social and ecological issues.

    David Loy is one of the founding members of the new Rocky Mountain Ecodharma Retreat Center, near Boulder, Colorado.

    More about David can be found here: www.davidloy.org

    Please click here for more information about the Ecodharma Retreat Center: https://rmerc.org

Freitag, 19. August 2022, 19.30–21 Uhr
online Zoom In Englisch
(mit der Möglichkeit, Fragen auch auf Deutsch zu stellen)

Kankyo Tannier:
”Zen in the age of climate change”

In these troubled times, when the future for everyone looks difficult, what does the Zen way offer us? During this dharma talk Kankyo will address the themes that are the basis of her daily life:
- the practice of zazen and its relationship to the body/emotions
- the social and environmental commitment of the practitioner in his or her personal life and with the social group
- the challenge of community life

Kankyo will be happy to discuss these themes with us and will try to answer our questions.

Donations go directly to support the farm Kibo and its sheltered animals.

  • Kankyo has been a resident of Ryumon-Ji Zen Monastery in France for 21 years. She was ordained in 2002 and is following the teaching of Master Olivier Reigen Wang-Genh from whom she received the transmission in 2019 (shiho).

    She is the author of books for the general public translated into 16 languages. Two of them "Stille" and "Unterwegs ins hier und jetzt" are available in German. The first one "The gift of silence" is available in English.

    For some years now, in addition to regular conferences and workshops, Kankyo has dedicated her life to the development of the Kibo project: a monastic farm with 20 living spaces oriented towards Soto Zen, permaculture, food/energy self-sufficiency and animal care (vegan shelter for animals rescued from slaughterhouses or elderly).

    Personal website:
    www.dailyzen.fr
    in French, English, German, Spanish

    Youtube channel
    in French, English, German, Spanish

    Podcast channel
    in German

Mittwoch, 22. Juni 2022, 19.30–21.30 Uhr
online Zoom

Nicole Baden:
”Die Kraft der Verletzlichkeit”

  • Tatsudo Nicole Baden Roshi ist Lehrnachfolgerin von Zentatsu Richard Baker Roshi, dem Begründer und Hauptlehrer der internationalen Gemeinschaft Dharma Sangha. Sie leitet das Zen Buddhistische Zentrum im Schwarzwald, das klösterliche Praxiszentrum der Dharma Sangha in der Zen-Buddhistischen Soto-Tradition. Nicole Baden studierte Psychologie an der Universität in Oldenburg und absolvierte eine körpertherapeutische Ausbildung im Body Mind Centering©. Von 2013-2019 war sie Ratsmitglied der Deutschen Buddhistischen Union.

Mittwoch, 15. Juni 2022, 19.30–21.30 Uhr
hybrid (Zoom + im Zendo)


Christian Dillo:
“Freiheit inmitten von Verletzlichkeit”

Zen und andere yogische Praxisformen beruhen auf der Grundannahme, dass Körper und Geist nicht getrennt sind. Das heißt alle Erfahrungen haben eine leiblich gespürte Komponente. Genau darin besteht unsere Verletzlichkeit. Wir können Zen-Meditation als eine Praxis verstehen, in der es darum geht, unserer Spürenswirklichkeit radikal Raum zu geben, ohne sie sofort durch Widerstand, Begehren oder begreifendes Verstehen abzuwehren oder verfügbar zu machen. Dadurch erwachen wir zu einer Freiheit inmitten von Verletzlichkeit.

  • Zenki Christian Dillo lebt und lehrt im Boulder Zen Center. Er begann seine Zen-Praxis 1996 im San Francisco Zen Center. 20 Jahre lang praktizierte er monastisch im Crestone Mountain Zen Center. Im Jahr 2013 erhielt er die Dharma-Übertragung von Zentatsu Baker Roshi.

    Seitdem ist er der leitende Lehrer des Boulder Zen Centers. Im Jahr 2020 zog er hauptberuflich nach Boulder, wo er mit seiner Frau, der Lichtkünstlerin Sophia Dixon Dillo, lebt.

    Sein Buch “Der tiefe Wunsch nach Lebendigkeit” erscheint am 27.5.22 bei Ullstein Buchverlage:
    https://www.ullstein-buchverlage.de/nc/buch/details/der-tiefe-wunsch-nach-lebendigkeit-9783793424376.html