|
About Zen in Iceland – Night PastureZen in Iceland – Night Pasture (Nátthagi) was legally certified as a religious organization on the 14th of June 1999. The abbot and teacher of Zen in Iceland is Ástvaldur Zenki in lieu of Jakusho Kwong-roshi. Helga Kimyo is also a teacher of of Zen in Iceland. The first president of the organization was Óskar Daian Tenshin Ingólfsson.
The mission statement of Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture is to maintain the practice of the Soto Zen school of Buddhism:
"FOR THE AWAKENING, BLESSING AND PROTECTION OF ALL BEINGS." |
The abiding place of Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture is at Kletthálsi 1, 110 Reykjavik (2nd floor).
|
The current president of the organization is Alfred Chozetsu Baehrenz Thordarson. On October 12th 2008, Kwong-roshi gave priest ordination to three members of Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture: Helga Kimyo Jóakimsdóttir, Ástvaldur Zenki Traustason, and Óskar Daian Tenshin Ingólfsson, who passed away in August of 2009. These three ordained priests were thereby given the responsibility and right to officiate during religious ceremonies organized by Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, and to serve as guides and role models to other members. In June of 2011, Kwong-roshi gave Helga Kimyo and Ástvaldur Zenki the title of Hoshi (Dharma Holder), thereby giving them the responsibility of fulfilling some of the abbot's duties in his absence. In July of 2011, Mikhael Zetsuzen Óskarsson was ordained as a Zen priest at Nátthagi by Kwong-roshi. Additionally Gyða Myoji and Brynjar Shoshin have been ordained as Zen priests at the Genjo-ji, Sonoma Mountain Zen Center by Kwong-roshi.
Prior to the legal recognition of Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, the organization, which at the time was known locally as the Zen Group, had been active from 1986 under the guidance of Kwong-roshi. At first the group conducted its meetings at the Theosophical Society at Ingólfsstræti 22, and later meetings were held at the Gerðuberg Cultural Center for a number of years. In January of 2007 a place at Grensásvegur 8 was purchased and now we are at Klettháls 1, which was purchased in the January of 2019. |
|
On New Year's Day of 2011, Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture had 85 members in total according to the National Registry. About 30 members from within that group have received lay ordination from Kwong-roshi, and many more have practiced within the organization throughout the years.
The religious practice of Zen Buddhism is called zazen in Japanese, which means seated meditation, and Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture offers daily zazen practice on every day of the week except for Sundays, to all of its members and to anyone who wishes to participate. The organization also offers Dharma talks, study groups and workshops to the general public. Previously the abbot and teacher of Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, Zen master Jakusho Kwong-roshi, visited Iceland every year to guide and instruct his students and to lead an intensive retreat of a few days, during which students practiced continuously and in silence from early morning until night. Roshi (Jp. "old teacher") has also given numerous public talks during his visits to Iceland over the period 25 years since he began his teaching tours. The current teachers of Zen in Iceland - Night Pasture are Ástvaldur Zenki and Helga Kimyo. Additionally Ástvaldur Zenki carries out the tasks of the abbot of the Zen in Iceland - Night Pasture.
Each and all is welcome to participate in the practice offered by Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, no matter his or her religious background or creed. Those who wish to become members of the organization are welcome to do so.
The religious practice of Zen Buddhism is called zazen in Japanese, which means seated meditation, and Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture offers daily zazen practice on every day of the week except for Sundays, to all of its members and to anyone who wishes to participate. The organization also offers Dharma talks, study groups and workshops to the general public. Previously the abbot and teacher of Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, Zen master Jakusho Kwong-roshi, visited Iceland every year to guide and instruct his students and to lead an intensive retreat of a few days, during which students practiced continuously and in silence from early morning until night. Roshi (Jp. "old teacher") has also given numerous public talks during his visits to Iceland over the period 25 years since he began his teaching tours. The current teachers of Zen in Iceland - Night Pasture are Ástvaldur Zenki and Helga Kimyo. Additionally Ástvaldur Zenki carries out the tasks of the abbot of the Zen in Iceland - Night Pasture.
Each and all is welcome to participate in the practice offered by Zen in Iceland – Night Pasture, no matter his or her religious background or creed. Those who wish to become members of the organization are welcome to do so.