Ciska Matthews
In search of something of essential meaning, I discovered zen in the 90s and was immediately captivated. Eventually I ended up in a Zen monastery in Japan, where I stayed for six years. Back in the Netherlands I became fascinated by vipassana and visited many long retreats. My acquaintance with advaita teacher Mooji in 2016 has helped me enormously, all the pieces of the puzzle fell into place, so to speak. I have been a passionate mindfulness trainer since 2011 and guide small meditation groups in Amsterdam. I also teach hatha and yin yoga. All these different traditions ultimately point to the same truth, in different words and with different methods. All very valuable.
In June 2023 my book was published: 'Memories of Harada Tangen roshi - my years in a Japanese Zen monastery'. Readers call it comforting, inspiring and moving; I am very happy and grateful for that.
Updates
Live Meditation scheduled for 23-12-2024: Who or what is the observer anyway?
Live Meditation: Who or what is the observer anyway?. Mindfulness implies that we consciously observe what is happening around us and within us; we observe the thoughts and feelings, and thus space is created. Today we turn our ...
Live Lecture scheduled for 08-12-2024: Seeing through Mara, then and now
Live Lecture: Seeing Through Mara, Then and Now. In the Zen tradition, the Buddha's enlightenment is celebrated on December 8. The story of the night Siddhartha was visited by Mara, the tempter, is very famous, and it ...
Live Meditation scheduled for June 16, 12: Silent meditation
Live Meditation: Silent meditation. After a short introduction we will mainly sit in silence so that you have plenty of space to practice yourself, with your own wisdom, and to come to a deeper silence. The Zoom participation link, other information and tips ...
Live Meditation scheduled for 04-11-2024: Behind the thoughts lies peace
Live Meditation: Behind the thoughts lies peace. 'In the mind there is no peace,' says Nisargadatta Maharaj, 'but Being is naturally peaceful.' So we don't have to fight the thoughts or control them; it is better to ...
Live Lecture scheduled for 24-11-2024: Zen and the Love of Nature – interview with Anshin Tenjo roshi
Live Lecture: Zen and the love for nature - interview with Anshin Tenjo roshi. On Sunday 1 December the new documentary "A Thousand Green Hands" will be broadcast on NPO2. In this film Misha Beliën follows participants in the Ecological Working Group ...
My offer
Mindful Eating – Workshop
September 20, 2024 15.00:17.00 PM - XNUMX:XNUMX PM We sometimes eat too much - or too little - or too ...
Closed for registrations
Memories of Harada Tongs roshi
Publisher: Asoka Autobiographical Report; impression of life in a Japanese Zen monastery, an old Zen master and the Zen tradition. Supplemented with ...
#21 Ciska Matthews
Ciska Matthes lived from 1999 to 2005 in a Japanese Zen monastery. In this episode she speaks with Joost van den ...
Check out my upcoming “offline meetings”
You can view my upcoming offline retreats, meditation days and courses on the 'On Location' page ...
