Mokushôzan Jakkô-ji

The Zen Centre Schönböken is the main venue of the Zen Association Germany. Zen sesshin (periods of intensive Zen practice) are held here under the guidance of Zen master L. Tenryû Tenbreul. The Zen Centre is also open to anyone interested in practising zazen regularly or attending other Zen activities.

Zen Master Shûyu Narita Rôshi (1914-2004), the Kanjo Kaisan (founding patriarch) of the Schönböken Mokushôzan Jakkôji Zen Centre, once gave the following speech on the occasion of a visit:

'To be able to do zazen in this temple Jakkôji, in this environment, which already has a special atmosphere, is a reason to be truly proud and happy.

For me, who came here from Japan, it is almost enviably beautiful, and the conditions for a dôjô and zazen are ideal. Meeting your original nature here in zazen, exposing yourself to it and shaping your life from it is the fulfilment of your heart's deepest desire. With every step we take, we can realise that we are following Shâkyamuni Buddha.

With Master Tenryû, with whom I have a deep connection, whose teacher I am, who is my student and whose student you are in turn, and with this wonderful place here, things have developed in such a way that I have been received here as Kanjo Kaisan, as the founder of the temple... And even if I am no longer here, if my body is no longer here, I am still here, you can believe that, and that I am doing zazen with you. Even if you don't see me. You can be firmly convinced that this is true.

Ultimately, the Buddha Way does not need words. All actions, all movements are. The sound of the drum moves the bowels. When the han (drumstick) sounds, you can feel it with your whole body and it straightens your posture. You pull your chin back and move your centre back down, correcting your hand position. And you yourself, practising zazen as a whole, are Buddha yourself. This is a different way of taking in your surroundings than through words Shinjin datsu raku - Zen body mind have fallen off."