Scratch Your Own Itch

ZEN TEMPLES SWITZERLAND

Zen Academy

ZEN makes mind its foundation and no-gate its gate. Now, how do you pass through this no-gate? It is said that things coming in through the gate can never be your own treasures. What is gained from external circumstances will perish in the end. However, such a saying is already raising waves when there is no wind. It is cutting unblemished skin. As for those who try to understand through other people`s words, they are striking the moon with a stick; scratching a shoe, whereas it is the foot that itches. What concern have they with the truth? A man of determination will unflinchingly push his way straight forward, regardless of all dangers. Then even the devil cannot hinder him. Even all the holy and wise ones from the east and west would beg for their lives. If one has no determination, then it will be like catching a glimpse of a horse galloping past a window; in the twinkling of an eye it will be gone.

Life and death are the great matter. Be watchful of your time. All is impermanent and passes swiftly away. Time waits for no one. The Great Zen Way is gateless, approached in a thousand ways. Once past this checkpoint you stride through the universe.

Zen Academy Switzerland. Welcome to the Zen Monastery in Switzerland.

Eremita Zen Temple

The Eremita Zen Temple in Einsiedeln is a small place for contemplating on the true self.

Honora Zen Monastery

Meditation, templestay, monthly retreats and the mountainweek at the Honora Zen Monastery in Reichenburg. A place for contemplating on the true self. You and everyone with sincere intention is welcome at the zen monastery.

Lambda Zen Temple

The Lambda Zen Temple, an IT Zen Temple in Glarus. For IT Specialists and Zen practitioners who are interested in a templestay program connected also to IT activities, gardening & hiking.

Ceremonies

A ceremony creates identity and is community-forming. It gives a phase of life a clerical, formal and public framework to consciously carry out and process important life events.

Day of the Temple

The Insopor Zen Academy opens the gate once a year for the public.

Zen Pilgrimage

The first Zen Pilgrimage in Europe & Switzerland spans between Eremita Zen Temple in Einsiedeln and Lambda Zen Temple in Glarus. Before the pilgrimage, a 7 day retreat is mandatory.

Templestay

Months, weeks, a few days, some hours or just visit to have a coffee as it suits you. The templegates are always open! Before a templestay, a 7 day retreat is mandatory.

Retreat 7 Days

Every month (first week from friday to thursday) there is a one-week-meditation retreat.

Retreat 1 Day

Once a month, there will be a one day zen retreat. Usually it will be on the third weekend of the month.

Mountain-Week

The week commemorating enlightenment. Through these seven days we rarely leave the meditating posture, even to lie down. There will be a winter and a summer Intensive Zen Retreat.

Digital Almsround

Welcome to the digital almsround of the Zen Academy (100 days crowdfunding, annually from early December to mid-March). Without the mutual support of clergy and laity, there is no place of silence and emptiness possible.

Q&A

Here you will find the most important questions and answers about templestay, the Zen Academy and Zen temples.

Zen in the Cemetery

The cemetery offers the opportunity to get to know a special kind of meditation in a special place. The meditations take place in spring and autumn.

Affair of the Sausages

Welcome to the Affair of the Sausages! We are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the Reformation in Switzerland.

MedicineStone - Online Talk

Every Monday at 8 p.m. (Switzerland Time) there will be the MedicineStone - Online Talk with Zen Monk Marcel Reding.

The dog chases the ball,
The tiger bites the thrower!

During Zen Meditation we reexamine life and death in the zen temples in Switzerland.

Here you can find more information about the ordination as  Monk /  Nun. For further questions about the Temples and Monastery in Switzerland contact us at any time via a contact form on the homepage or call. We would be pleased to welcome you in one of our Zen temples. Visit for a cup of coffee, an evening meditation, for a short or long term templestay. The temple gates are always open and the daily routine continues. Examine and share Life & Death with the Zen Nuns and Zen Monks in Switzerland.