About us
Zen in Belgium is a story that began in the 1970s in Paris.
There, Master Roland Yuno Rech met Taisen Deshimaru Rōshi, and the connection with Japanese Buddhism was established.
Fifty years of transmission in Europe began then: the development of a wave of new communities, teachers, and practice centers.
Discover our group and its lineage in this section.
Florent Futei Monderer
Disciple of Konrad Kōsan Maquestieau, in the lineage of Roland Yuno Rech, Taisen Deshimaru Rōshi, Kōdō Sawaki Rōshi, and also that of Rempō Niwa Zenji, Florent Monderer - Futei in Buddhism - practices and teaches in the region of Wavre and its surroundings (Walloon Brabant, Belgium).
Upon discovering zazen at Kannon Dojo in Brussels, he moved from retreat to retreat under the guidance of Master Roland Yuno Rech to deepen his understanding of this path opening before him.
In 2016, he packed his bags and traveled (on foot) to the Zen Buddhist monastery Kanshoji in Dordogne, France, to fully immerse himself in Zen practice and dedicate all his time to it. This was a true discovery of Zen temple life in the community founded by Taiun Jean-Pierre Faure. It was there, in 2017, that Futei took part in the Jukai ceremony (taking refuge and receiving the precepts).
In 2018, he returned to Belgium to share his learnings in his homeland. He invested his energy particularly in the Zen center Jigendō in Walloon Brabant, alongside his friend and monk Jean-François Vercauteren.
At the same time, he met Konrad Kōsan Maquestieau, Zen master and head of Shododojo in Halle, from whom he officially became a disciple during the Tokudō ("the entry into the Way") ceremony in 2021.
Then, in 2022, he founded the Zen group of Chaumont-Gistoux, for which he is currently responsible.
In 2024, he participated in his first Ango (a three-month intensive retreat) at Tōshōji Zen Temple in the Okayama Prefecture in Japan, under the guidance of the venerable Seido Suzuki Rōshi.
Today, Futei provides a rigorous yet welcoming framework for practice, where everyone can grow and develop on the path of Sōtō Zen.
His teaching spans from the transmission of traditional forms, focusing on the posture of zazen, to offering innovative responses to the spiritual path and current social issues.
The place
Situated in a green area, the Zen group of Chaumont-Gistoux thrives in harmony with nature.
Whether it’s the view from the meditation room or the journey to get there, the connection with life is ever-present, in every season. Evolving in this simplicity is, of course, an integral part of the Zen practice.
Accessibility is also essential, meaning we place importance on connecting with the local community and the social network.
You can come on foot, by bicycle, by bus, or even by car, and take the train to the Wavre and Louvain-la-Neuve stations.
Why not consider a multi-day stay to further explore our region?
The AZI and the Sōtōshu
The group of Chaumont-Gistoux is part of a thousand-year-old lineage.
As a member of the Association Zen Internationale, from which it recognizes the guidance, the group strives to transmit a respectful teaching of the forms brought by Master Taisen Deshimaru Rōshi to Europe.
The close link with the society enables our practice to spread without obstacles, in order to grow together on the path of liberation.
The posture of zazen represents the main symbol, where we aim to stand vertically, in silence and immobility, and observe the movements of our mind, before allowing ourselves to be absorbed in absolute openness and transcending our life.
Simultaneously, the integration of the group into Sōtōshū (the Sōtō Zen school) allows us to implement the connection with the Japanese roots of our tradition. The influence of both contemporary and past Zen masters can then flow freely to us, creating a diversity of practices where all cultures can mix.
These Japanese inspirations are felt in our minds, and also in our gestures at the meditation place, at home, and at work, where grace mixes with vitality in every activity.
Fore more information, follow the link to the websites.