StoneWater Zen Northampton

23/06/2025

Pay attention, Pilgrim! Some reflections on attention and distraction in meditation and in life. (From a talk on 21/6/2025)

Northampton branch of the StoneWater Zen Sangha, a British Zen Buddhist lineage. Meets Mondays weekly, beginners always welcome.

09/06/2025

Why start a "goal-less" practice? Some thoughts on Zen practice.
https://swz-northampton.blogspot.com/2025/06/why-start-goal-less-practice.html

19/05/2025

Zazen in Northampton has been cancelled this evening due to a police incident (the entrance to the building won't be accessible for a while). Apologies - we'll meet again next week!

05/05/2025

Just a quick reminder that we sit on Bank Holiday Mondays... Join us for a spot of zazen?

27/04/2025

Just shared this on the SWZ Northants blog (https://swz-northampton.blogspot.com/2025/04/video-recommendation-great-intro-to-zen.html), but thought I'd post it up here, too.

Use code RFBINCOGNI at the link below to get an exclusive 60% off an annual Incogni plan: https://incogni.com/rfbincogni.Join our Patreon community! https://...

21/04/2025

Easter Monday... Time for a spot of Zen Meditation this evening? Same time & place!

08/04/2025

"Hanamatsuri omedetou!" (花まつりおめでとう!) Happy Buddha's Birthday to all!

Hanamatsuri, or the Flower Festival day, is when the birth of the Buddha is celebrated in Japanese Buddhist traditions. So treat yourself to some flowers today, and make an impromptu Hanamatsuri altar!

25/03/2025

Just a quick note to say that we'll be closed on the Mondays of 7th and 14th April while I'm away on sesshin and annual leave. Back on the 21st (Easter Monday).

18/03/2025

New on the blog - a rave about Dogen's "Fukanzazengi" that we've been discussing after our Monday evening zazen over the past month. https://swz-northampton.blogspot.com/2025/03/dogens-fukanzazengi-essential-reading.html

28/02/2025

Eyebrows entangled with the ancients
Daruma's fetid breath in my face
Dogen's sweaty forehead on mine
We all stare at the wall

https://swz-northampton.blogspot.com/2025/02/meeting-ancestors-face-to-face.html

25/02/2025

Join the StoneWater sangha for online zazen - an invitation of sorts: https://swz-northampton.blogspot.com/2025/02/an-invitation-to-online-zazen.html

And of course join us for our regular Monday evening in-person zazen in Northampton! https://swz-northampton.blogspot.com/p/welcome-to-swz-northampton.html

06/02/2025

From Master Dogen's 'Fukanzazengi' (Universal Recommendation of Zazen): "Zazen is not a meditation technique. It is simply the Dharma gate of joyful ease, it is practising the realization of the boundless Dharma way. Here, the open mystery manifests, and there are no more traps and snares for you to get caught in."