Buddhism
Buddhism originated in the teaching of Prince Siddhartha Gautama who was born approximately 500 BC in Nepal, near the border of present day India. Through the practice of meditation he became the Buddha, the Enlightened One.
Buddhist Communities
Dublin Buddhist Centre, Dublin City.
Buddhism is a path of practise and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of life. Buddhist practises such as meditation are means of changing oneself in order to develop the qualities of awareness, kindness, and wisdom. The experience developed within the Buddhist tradition over thousands of years has created an incomparable resource for all those who wish to follow a path – a path which ultimately culminates in Enlightenment or Buddhahood.
Zen Buddhism Ireland
Zen Buddhism Ireland is a Buddhist 'Sangha' or community in the Sōtō Zen Buddhist tradition. The founder and guiding teacher is Rev. Myozan Kodo Kilroy, a Sōtō Zen Buddhist priest in the lineage of Nishijima Roshi and a member of the Sōtō Zen Buddhist Association of recognised Western Zen teachers. Primarily based in Ireland, we also have members practicing with us across Europe.
Buddhism was started over two-and-a-half thousand years ago by Guattma Buddha, who taught overcoming suffering by seeing into the true nature of reality. Zen, or Chan, emerged in China in the 6th century CE, with a particular focus on meditation practice. The Caodong or Sōtō school of Chan was brought to Japan in the 13th century by Dōgen Zenji, who emphasised Shikantaza or "sitting meditation practice", also known as "Zazen".
In Zen Buddhism Ireland our main practice is Zazen as taught by Master Dōgen, which we conduct together in community - both in person and online. In addition to daily meditation practice, we also honour the traditional ritual forms of Zen practice, and conduct various ceremonies throughout the liturgical year, as well as having a particular devotion to sewing the Okesa, the Buddha’s robe, the robe of Zazen. Our observance also involves the study of Buddhist teachings and texts, especially working with Dōgen’s master work the Shōbōgenzō; and some socially engaged practices, which many of our community are involved in, in various ways.
As well as sitting together daily, and in person weekly, we hold various retreats: from one-day Zazenkai to week-long Sesshins throughout the year, where we deepen our practice through intense group meditation.
We offer instruction on Zazen practice, and on request, Rev. Myozan will prepare students for ‘Jukai’, the ceremony of formally entering the Buddhist path and taking the Precepts. Rev. Myozan also officiates at weddings, funerals, naming ceremonies, commitment ceremonies and other ceremonies to mark life transitions.
You can learn more about us at our website: zenbuddhism.ie. To contact Rev. Myozan, please email: myozankodo@gmail.com
Words of Faith
The word Buddha means The awakened One coming from the Sanskrit root budh - 'to wake'.
Buddhist believe that nothing is fixed or permanent and that change is always possible. The path to enlightment is through the practice and development of morality, meditation and wisdom. The Noble Eightfold Path includes; (1) Right View. (2) Right Thought. (3) Right Speech. (4) Right Action. (5) Right livelihood. (6) Right effort. (7) Right Mindfulness. (8) Right concentration.