Yamada Sōshō (山田宗正) entered religion in Daitokuji at the age of 12, and graduated in philosophy from Hanazono University in 1976. Still in Daitokuji, in 1998 he became the 27th Reverend of the Shinjū-An sub-temple, founded in 1491 in honor of the famous monk Ikkyū. He still occupies this function.

He has directed many zen retreats in Japan and Europe, and in 2012 published a book entitled " Ikkyū, impertinence in the service of faith" at Anima Viva.

His style is both lively, spontaneous, and warm-hearted.

A day of meditation begins at 6:30 am and includes 12 to 14 25-minute zazen sessions with a "kinhin" walk between each sitting, plus a group walk in the late morning in the vicinity of the monastery, and in the afternoon a bowl of matcha green tea prepared for everyone by members of the Belgian Urasenke Tea Ceremony Association.

Yamada Sōshō at the intensive tea ceremony seminar in Hurtebise, 2014

Michel Decré
Wed Mar 1 21:56:28 CET 2017