Zen Paris 18e: A Small Zen Dojo in the Deshimaru Lineage
Zen Paris is a small dojo founded in the late 1990s by the nun and feminist activist Josy Genji Thibaut (1925–2017). Since her passing, the dojo has been led by her disciples, monks and nuns of the Kosen sangha, in the lineage of Master Deshimaru.
Zen Paris welcomes you for a simple and authentic practice of soto Zen (close to rinzai Zen): the essence of the practice is group meditation in the zazen posture.
Zazen sessions — Sunday at 9:55 AM
50 rue Labat, Paris 18e · Château-Rouge metro (line 4).
First visit: contact the dojo the day before at dojo.zen.paris@gmail.com. Zafu and zabuton provided. Wear loose, dark clothing.
Our dojo maintains close ties with other dojos, based in France and abroad (Dijon, Lyon, Montpellier, Barcelona, Madrid, Quebec, Buenos Aires, Geneva, Budapest, Amsterdam…).
The Zen that Deshimaru transmitted to us is this. Deshimaru lived in Paris and taught Dalida, Arnaud Desjardins, Jodorowsky, Béjart, people like that, an entire intellectual circle. Also, a whole youthful, somewhat hippie crowd, who were neither monks nor sons of monks. There was no temple; we improvised, we did zazen wherever we could.
Master Kosen
to ensure better visibility and improved functioning in its various activities (zazen, retreats, Zen sewing, etc.) and within the Kosen Sangha.
In keeping with the spirit of its founder—both rigorous and slightly iconoclastic—the Zen Paris dojo offers a sincere and profound practice, combined with great tolerance and freedom of mind.