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Zen Group of Western Australia

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Zen Group of Western Australia
Religion
AffiliationDiamond Sangha, Zen
Location
LocationFremantle, Western Australia
CountryAustralia
Architecture
FounderRobert Aitken Roshi
Completed1983
Website
www.zgwa.org.au

The Zen Group of Western Australia (ZGWA) is an organization of lay zen practitioners located in Perth, Western Australia.

Affiliation and practice

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The ZGWA is formally affiliated with the Diamond Sangha tradition of Zen Buddhism, which was founded in Hawaii in 1959 by Robert Aitken Roshi.[1]

In keeping with Diamond Sangha tradition, the ZGWA uses rituals from both the Soto and Rinzai schools.[2] Mediation practices of Shikantaza from the Sōtō school and koan training from the Rinzai school are typical forms of practise employed by students in the group, under the guidance of the groups roshi.

Teachers

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Ross Bolleter (right) after the transmission ceremony for Arthur Wells

ZGWA's senior teacher is Ross Bolleter Roshi, who supervises new Zen teachers and assists with the founding of new groups throughout Australia and New Zealand. Ross Bolleter Roshi received transmission from Robert Aitken Roshi in 1995.[3] Ian Sweetman Roshi is the resident teacher in Perth, authorized in 2001 by Ross Bolleter Roshi.

Organization

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The group is a not-for-profit organization,[4] assisted by an annually elected council of volunteer members.[5] Council responsibilities include the organizing of sesshin and weekly zazen, correspondence to members about events and assisting with orientation for newcomers.

The ZGWA has no proprietary residence. Appropriate housing of the zendo is made by rental arrangement.

History

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The ZGWA started in 1983 with a small group of people sitting in a private home in Mt. Claremont, Perth. Over the years, the ZGWA's meeting place zendo has moved from private residences to an office building in Fremantle, and is currently situated at a church hall.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Honolulu Diamond Sangha". Archived from the original on August 15, 2010. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  2. ^ "History of Diamond Sangha". Archived from the original on 2016-04-15.
  3. ^ "Zen Buddhism: Sanbo Kyodan: Harada-Yasutani School and its Teachers". Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015. (Aitken Line)
  4. ^ "The Constitution of the ZGWA". Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2010. Section 4
  5. ^ "The Constitution of the ZGWA". Archived from the original on October 13, 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2010. Section 6
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