Helsinki Zen Center

We provide an opportunity to practice Zen in a group, under the guidance of an experienced teacher and in connection with a living tradition.

Introductions in English

We arrange brief and practical introductions to meditation practice and formal zazen (Zen meditation) procedure. After this introduction you can start to practice on your own and attend formal zazen with our group.

We arrange zazen several times a week, as well as full day and weekend meditations. We arrange introductory workshops for beginners several times a year. Please see our timetable for the occasions. Members may also participate in weekend retreats in Finland and sesshins (four- or seven-day retreats) in Zengården in Sweden.

Our teachers are Sensei Sante Poromaa and Sensei Kanja Odland, the spiritual leaders of Zenbuddhistiska Samfundet. You can meet them for example during meditation retreats in Finland and in Sweden.

We practice Zen according to the lineage that was established by the Japanese master Sogaku Harada Roshi, brought to the West by Roshi Philip Kapleau. For more information about Zen, our teachers, and our lineage, see the Rochester Zen Center and Zenbuddhistiska Samfundet websites.

Zen sitting groups also practice in Tampere, Jyväskylä, Oulu and Lahti. Please ask more by email, which you can find on our contacts page.

You will find information on all Buddhist groups in Finland at the Religions in Finland Project. See also the Finnish Buddhist Union.

For further information, please get in touch. You will find our contact information here.

The address of our zendo is:

Helsinki Zen Center ry
Kalevankatu 4
00100 HELSINKI
FINLAND