The Liverpool Zen Group
Our Tradition: The White Plum Sangha
Zen is a Japanese school of Buddhism that emphasises zazen (literally: sitting meditation) as a tool for seeing into the true nature of reality and realising our own intrinsic Buddha-nature.
"Zen is a pithy, stripped-down, determined, uncompromising, cut-to-the-chase, meditation-based Buddhism that takes no interest in doctrinal refinements. Not relying on scripture, doctrine, or ritual, Zen is verified by personal experience, and is passed on from master to disciple, hand-to-hand, ineffably, through hard, intimate training...
"Although Zen eventually developed traditions of study and ritual, its emphasis on personal experience has always made it a practice-oriented tradition. The practice is meditation, or sitting Zen (Zazen). Zazen is an intensely simple practice that is generally taught without steps, stages, or frills. The master teaches sitting in good, upright posture, paying full attention to breathing in your belly until you are fully alert and present. This sense of being present, with illumination and intensity, is the essence of zazen." – Norman Fischer in the Shambala Sun; March 2004
The White Plum Asanga, to which the Liverpool Zen Group is affiliated, was founded by Taizan Maezumi Roshi (1931-1995), a Japanese Zen Master who received 'dharma transmission' from three independent lineages in both the Soto and Rinzai sects of Zen. Maezumi Roshi has passed his transmission on to twelve Western Zen Masters, including Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi and Charles Tenshin Fletcher Roshi, both of whom are connected to Liverpool Zen Group.
In 2002, Genpo Roshi gave 'Hoshi' to David Shoji Scott, making him a qualified Zen teacher in the White Plum Sangha. Since then, the group has been growing vigorously, and is developing a reputation as a centre for strong and vibrant practice within the UK.
Regular Zazen
We welcome people from all faiths and none.
Evening Zazen: We meet every Monday and Wednesday at 6.45 pm for zazen, which finishes around 9.00pm. We sit for two periods, followed by and concluding with a talk or reading by David Scott. Beginners should arrive by 6.40 on a Wednesday (but not first Wednesdays of each month) for their first visit for an introductory session. Wednesday evening sessions are held at The Dojo, Top Floor, 13 Hope Street.
Morning Zazen: Additionally, we sit on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday mornings - please arrive by 6.50am. We will be finished by 8.10a.m.
The Zen group does have financial commitments, and donations of around £2.00 to £3.00 for a zazen session are very welcome.
Contact Details & Venue
For general information, email info@liverpool-zen.org.uk. To contact Dave Scott directly, email him at dl.scott@virgin.net.
The Liverpool Zen Group's centre (from 19 March 2007) is at:
1 Blackburne Terrance
Blackburne Place
Liverpool L8 7PE
Find us on MultiMap, or see our website for an interactive map.
Recommended Reading
- David Scott & Tony Doubleday (1996). The Elements of Zen. Element Books. ISBN: 1862040427 (Link at Amazon.co.uk)
- David Scott & Tenshin Fletcher-sensei (2003). The Way of Zen. Thomas Dunne Books. ISBN: 0312206208 (Link at Amazon.co.uk)
In addition, David Scott has written widely on Zen cooking, martial arts and Japan. For a more complete listing of his books and those of other teachers in this lineage, go to http://www.liverpool-zen.org.uk/links-books.html.
LZG members have access to a small (but growing) lending library, open before Wednesday evening zazen. Donations of books or other materials are very welcome!
Links
- http://www.liverpool-zen.org.uk/
Website of the Liverpool Zen Group - http://www.zenbuddhism.co.uk/
The UK home page of the White Plum Sangha, the broader community to which the LZG is affiliated. - http://www.whiteplum.org/
International home page of the White Plum Asanga. - http://genpo.org/KZC/Kanzeon_home.html
Home page of the Kanzeon Zen Centre, residence of Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi. - http://www.zmc.org/
Zen Mountain Centre in Colorado, residence of Charles Tenshin Fletcher Roshi.
