The History
Master Kaisen introduced himself to the Czech Republic in 1990. Since then, his books have been published here and people could have come to see him on several lectures and introductions to zazen he has given here, and learn about him from various press articles and programmes on the radio and TV.
The first zen monk in the Czech Republic, Robert Sklapnicka, a Mister Kaisen´s disciple, founded the first dojo in Prague in 1997. This was located above the Miabi Japanese restaurant in the building of the Czech-Japanese Association. Robert came here every week to lead zazen. Later on, the Prague dojo changed places many times, it was in the Czech-Japanese Association at Mustek, later still in the Lotus Buddhist Centre in Dlouha Street in Prague.
When Master Kaisen was visiting Prague in 2001, he named our dojo Myo Gen Ji, which translated from Japanese means The Temple of the Sacred Spring.
Since 2004, Tomasz Dabrowski, a zen monk from Poland and Master Kaisen’s disciple, has been responsible for leading the Prague dojo and transmitting Master Kaisen’s teachings in the Czech Republic.
In 2005, Master Kaisen’s disciples founded the Soto Zen Association to make it easier for the general public to get acquainted with Master Kaisen’s teaching. Since 2005 we also have a permanent centre in Prague.
At the moment, we organize zazen meditations twice a week, one-day retreats, lectures and film projections. All of these take place in our dojo.
