North London Zen Center - Soto Deshimaru Lineage

[Hoshuku]

During my annual UK trip, I was able to drop into sit with this group led by Lana Berrington, a Canadian born priest with dharma transmission in the Deshimaru line. I knew about her and the group through a Soto Zen Facebook Group, which I where I first encountered Jundo. I went on a Thursday evening (7-9) and Sunday morning (9-11). Due to our habits at Treeleaf I managed not to embarrass us as this is the most liturgically inclined group I’ve ever met (and I live in Japan). On the Sunday morning it seemed that EVERYONE was a priest, had memorized everything and chanted in Sino-Japanese (they gave me a booklet), did full body postrations and only wore black. I felt like the country mouse visiting city cousins. Very friendly city cousins curious about our ways and who knew of Jundo through an online talk he’d given about ‘The Zen Master’s Dance.’

Bows
Hoshuku
Satlah

[Bion]

Sounds lovely and it seems like they have plenty practice opportunities throughout the week.

Gassho
sat lah

[Kotei]

That sounds nice!
Some time ago, I sat a retreat with a group like that. The lay folks all in (lay) robes and everything memorized. And they've had quite some repertoire of different chants.
I felt like that country mouse, too. Everyone ready to start with the ceremony and then waiting for the Jisha to bring the chant book, walking all around the room, just for me.
But it was also very intimate and embracing.

Gassho,
Kotei sat/lah today.

[Washin]

Interesting. It seems like most of the groups that belong to the Deshimaru lineage are of the same style. Years ago I sat a couple of retreats with the mixed PL-UA sangha practicing under Sando Kaisen.
The same format as described above.
It was a good experience for me.

Gassho
Washin
St+lah

[michaelw]

I sat with the Kosen sangha in Deshimaru lineage during Ango. They had a sit in solidarity with Stephane teachings after he passed away in September. It was a 24hr a day over 43 days sit broken into 25 minutes zazen five minutes kinhin. I found it such a natural way to sit that I still use it daily. They are a very conservative orthodox practice in my limited experience. My green Rakusu caused a few hard stares.
I used to sit Sunday with them but prefer our own Treeleaf Sunday.
I like a good schism and AZI has now split into AZI and Zen Deshimaru Buddhist Association or Kosen sangha and everyone else. I can't for the life of me find any discernable difference between them except Stephane used the 'true bearer of the light' argument after he took exception to Harada(?) a Rinzai master being invited to lead sesshin at La Gendronnière. He went off and formed ZDBA. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

Gassho
MichaelW
satlah

[Myo-jin]

As someone who feels more at home with the ‘mad old hermit in the backwoods’ than the cultured and refined town monks, I’d take country mouse as a compliment.

Gassho

Sattlah

明尽

[Jundo]

Each place and Lineage has their own house style, with their own good points and possible demerits,** plus a reminder that what suits one person as excellent medicine may not be for another.

If everybody in Buddhism where one way, rather than diverse ways, the tradition might have died out long ago. Like species in the ecosystem, diversity is a good thing for the overall health of nature.

** FOOTNOTE: Except for Treeleaf. We are perfect for everyone.

Gassho, J
stlah

[Shinkon]

I think of Fievel Mousekewitz being in the big city - a fun image.
Now and then, I like to visit other zen groups and see how they perform services and conduct zazen. When it's back to in-person services, I'll visit the O-an Zendo local to my area. Meido Barbara Anderson is their resident teacher.

Gassho,
Shinkon
satlah

[Hosei]

During my annual UK trip, I was able to drop into sit with this group led by Lana Berrington, a Canadian born priest with dharma transmission in the Deshimaru line. I knew about her and the group through a Soto Zen Facebook Group, which I where I first encountered Jundo. I went on a Thursday evening (7-9) and Sunday morning (9-11). Due to our habits at Treeleaf I managed not to embarrass us as this is the most liturgically inclined group I’ve ever met (and I live in Japan). On the Sunday morning it seemed that EVERYONE was a priest, had memorized everything and chanted in Sino-Japanese (they gave me a booklet), did full body postrations and only wore black. I felt like the country mouse visiting city cousins. Very friendly city cousins curious about our ways and who knew of Jundo through an online talk he’d given about ‘The Zen Master’s Dance.’

Bows
Hoshuku
Satlah

Come back any time my dude - everyone's welcome. (ps: we also chant in english sometimes - but mostly the ekos)
法星 Hōsei

[Jundo]

Come back any time my dude - everyone's welcome. (ps: we also chant in english sometimes - but mostly the ekos)
法星 Hōsei

Hi Hosei!,

For those who don't know, "Hosei" is the wonderful Zen priest Hosei Berrington, friend of Treeleaf and head priest in London!

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Gassho, Jundo
stlah