Various Buddhist traditions in Groningen
Groningen happens to be slightly different from Friesland and Noord-Holland, for it harbours not one, but two temples, a centre for meditation and a monastery. Also, Groningen is home to an institute for Mahayana Buddhism, the Triratna Buddhist movement and a centre for the Karma Kagya school. These will all be individually described bellow.
Zen River
Zen River is an international monastery of Zen Buddhism, which provides training of zen meditation led by Tenkei Coppens Roshi and his wife Myoho Gabrysch Sensei. As dharma-successors of Genpo Merzel Roshi, they are both representatives of the White Plum Lineage, founded by Maezumi Roshi in the United States of America. Tenkei Roshi is also acknowledged by the Japanese Soto School and he is active in the development in the European section of this school. Zen River is officially registered as Soto temple.
Buddha Parami temple
The ‘Wat Buddha Parami Thai-Netherlands Culture’ foundation bought the former Reformed Church at the Marktstraat in Musselkanaal and turned it into a Buddhist temple. This temple is the third Thai temple in the Netherlands. They aim to improve the knowledge of Thai language and culture among the Dutch. Thai who live in the north of the Netherlands will not have to cross the country anymore, but are able to visit the Buddha Parami Tempel.
Vipassana
The Vipassana Centre for Meditation in Groningen aims to provide anyone with the possibility to practise Vipassanameditation under supervision. After the meditation, there's a possibility to talk about the individual experiences of the participators. They stimulate active use of the Buddha's teachings. They are often visited by Buddhist monk Bhante Seelagawesi Thero from Sri Lanka, who gives lectures about the Buddhist Theravada tradition. The purpose of Vipassanameditation is gaining insight in both ourselves and the nature of existence. The intention is to be consciously aware of the present and know what happens around us at this moment. Vipassana means 'clear sight'.
Maitreya
The Maitreya Institute's purpose is to make Mahayana Buddhism more accessible in the Netherlands, because the principles and methods of Mahayana Buddhism are aimed at making both individuals and all of society happier. At the Maitreya Institute they seek to accomplish this by giving regular lessons, meditation sessions and other activities in the traditional Tibetan Buddhism, all supervised by actual Tibetan monks. They organise these lessons and sessions since 1979.
Buddhist movement Triratna
The Triratna Buddhist movement in Groningen is part of an international network. The main goal of this movement is to give Buddhism and meditation, the ideas of the Buddha, form and content in the modern world. Triatna means 'three jewels' in Sanskrit. Those 'three jewels' are the Buddha himself, the Dharma, his teachings, and the Sangha, his community.
Diamond Way Buddhism: Karma Kagyu Lineage
Diamond Way Buddhism Groningen is part of a global network of more than 620 centres of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. The centres were founded by Lama Ole Nydahl and are under his practical guidance. The spiritual guidance lies with the Seventeenth Karampa, Trinley Thaye Dorje. All activities are based on idealism and friendship. The authentic meditations and methods of Diamond Way Buddhism are presented in a transparent and modern style, without any cultural involvements. The centre in Groningen exists since 1979. Initially, it was a joint venture of Buddhists of various traditions. Later, every tradition founded its own organisation. Since 1990, the group consists of Diamond Way practitioners. In the years that followed, several sister-groups and -centres were created in the Netherlands.
Zen River
Zen River is an international monastery of Zen Buddhism, which provides training of zen meditation led by Tenkei Coppens Roshi and his wife Myoho Gabrysch Sensei. As dharma-successors of Genpo Merzel Roshi, they are both representatives of the White Plum Lineage, founded by Maezumi Roshi in the United States of America. Tenkei Roshi is also acknowledged by the Japanese Soto School and he is active in the development in the European section of this school. Zen River is officially registered as Soto temple.
Buddha Parami temple
The ‘Wat Buddha Parami Thai-Netherlands Culture’ foundation bought the former Reformed Church at the Marktstraat in Musselkanaal and turned it into a Buddhist temple. This temple is the third Thai temple in the Netherlands. They aim to improve the knowledge of Thai language and culture among the Dutch. Thai who live in the north of the Netherlands will not have to cross the country anymore, but are able to visit the Buddha Parami Tempel.
Vipassana
The Vipassana Centre for Meditation in Groningen aims to provide anyone with the possibility to practise Vipassanameditation under supervision. After the meditation, there's a possibility to talk about the individual experiences of the participators. They stimulate active use of the Buddha's teachings. They are often visited by Buddhist monk Bhante Seelagawesi Thero from Sri Lanka, who gives lectures about the Buddhist Theravada tradition. The purpose of Vipassanameditation is gaining insight in both ourselves and the nature of existence. The intention is to be consciously aware of the present and know what happens around us at this moment. Vipassana means 'clear sight'.
Maitreya
The Maitreya Institute's purpose is to make Mahayana Buddhism more accessible in the Netherlands, because the principles and methods of Mahayana Buddhism are aimed at making both individuals and all of society happier. At the Maitreya Institute they seek to accomplish this by giving regular lessons, meditation sessions and other activities in the traditional Tibetan Buddhism, all supervised by actual Tibetan monks. They organise these lessons and sessions since 1979.
Buddhist movement Triratna
The Triratna Buddhist movement in Groningen is part of an international network. The main goal of this movement is to give Buddhism and meditation, the ideas of the Buddha, form and content in the modern world. Triatna means 'three jewels' in Sanskrit. Those 'three jewels' are the Buddha himself, the Dharma, his teachings, and the Sangha, his community.
Diamond Way Buddhism: Karma Kagyu Lineage
Diamond Way Buddhism Groningen is part of a global network of more than 620 centres of the Karma Kagyu Lineage. The centres were founded by Lama Ole Nydahl and are under his practical guidance. The spiritual guidance lies with the Seventeenth Karampa, Trinley Thaye Dorje. All activities are based on idealism and friendship. The authentic meditations and methods of Diamond Way Buddhism are presented in a transparent and modern style, without any cultural involvements. The centre in Groningen exists since 1979. Initially, it was a joint venture of Buddhists of various traditions. Later, every tradition founded its own organisation. Since 1990, the group consists of Diamond Way practitioners. In the years that followed, several sister-groups and -centres were created in the Netherlands.
Review
Zen River is located in a beautiful property on the outskirts of Uithuizen, a small village on the northern edge of Holland close to the Waddensea. It enjoys the spaciousness and tranquillity of the country-side and yet it is easily accessible by public transportation.
The programme is based on four elements of training (zazen, ritual, study and bodhisattva activity) and consists of a daily schedule as well as a calender of retreats and related events. Zen River functions as an “open” monastery. This means that everybody is welcome to participate in all or parts of the programme, while the continuity of training is ensured by fourteen full-time resident monastics. Many members join on a regular basis as to support and deepen their practice at home. Newcomers receive special attention. The overnight accommodation has a capacity of forty two participants in total. All meals on regular training days are vegetarian. English and Dutch are the common languages spoken at Zen River Temple. Most classes are held in English.
The programme is based on four elements of training (zazen, ritual, study and bodhisattva activity) and consists of a daily schedule as well as a calender of retreats and related events. Zen River functions as an “open” monastery. This means that everybody is welcome to participate in all or parts of the programme, while the continuity of training is ensured by fourteen full-time resident monastics. Many members join on a regular basis as to support and deepen their practice at home. Newcomers receive special attention. The overnight accommodation has a capacity of forty two participants in total. All meals on regular training days are vegetarian. English and Dutch are the common languages spoken at Zen River Temple. Most classes are held in English.
If you would like to find out more about the beautiful landscape of Groningen and the riches of Buddhism it harbours, feel free to click the 'links' button on the right. If you are interested in Friesland and Noord-Holland and their take on Buddhism, the buttons are there to serve your wish. Might you feel a little overwhelmed, don't feel ashamed of taking a step back by clicking the 'home' button and get reaccustomed to your surroundings!
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