About Us / Eolas
The Galway Zen Dojo was founded by Alain Liebmann, who was born in Paris in 1945 and, in 1970, met Taisen Deshimaru, a Zen master who had arrived in Paris to teach zazen and the Japanese Soto Zen tradition.
Master Deshimaru’s mission was a success and led to the founding of the Association Zen International which unites thousands of members and many temples, zen centres and dojos all over Europe.
Alain Tainan Liebmann was ordained as a monk by Master Deshimaru in 1976 and practiced with perseverance in the AZI Paris dojo until 1991 when he set off for Ireland, founding dojos in Dublin, Cork and Galway.
In 2013, Alain received final dharma transmission from the late Kōshū Itabashi Zenji, abbot of Gotanjoji and former 23rd abbot of Sojiji.
Tainan Liebmann now lives in the foothills of the Pyrenees at his most recently founded dojo.
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The Galway Zen Dojo, founded in 1993, was first located in the Bridge Mills before moving to its present location at Áras na nGael.
In addition to the regular weekly schedule of zazen, GZD holds monthly days of zazen, with an opportunity for a more sustained experience of zazen along with a vegetarian lunch and afternoon shiatsu, lecture or discussion.
The GZD community also organises two and three-day sesshins (retreats) at Esker Monastery near Athenry, Co. Galway, two or three times a year together with our friends at Earth & Sky Dojo in Dublin.
Galway Zen Dojo and Earth & Sky have also continued the tradition of annual week-long summer camps on the Áran Islands begun by Tainan Liebmann
Hossen shiki
Earlier this year, on Sunday, the 4th of May, at the conclusion of the Spring Sesshin of the Grande Sangha of the International Zen Association (AZI) at La Gendronnière monastery in France, the flagship of Sôtô Zen Buddhism in Europe, the ‘Dharma Combat’ ceremony (Hossen Shiki 法戰式) took place with Galway Zen Dojo’s responsible, Tom Jikai Cleary. Tom had been serving as “First Seat” (Shuso首座), the head monk and leader of the Sangha Hall Assembly (Sōdōshu 僧堂衆) – a model in mind and body for the monks of the great assembly (Daishu 大衆).
In the Hossen Shiki ceremony, the “First Seat” takes the place of the Abbot and answers questions from the great assembly. Successful completion of the Hossen Shiki ceremony in effect makes the monk a “pillar of the sangha”, both the greater European sangha and the international Sôtô Zen sangha.
Tom has of course been a pillar of the Irish sangha for many years, responsible for the Galway Zen Dojo and leader of countless retreats. It is wonderful to now see this recognised in Europe and internationally. We look forward to his return to the Galway Dojo with the energy of the Grande Sangha of the AZI and the knowledge and experience acquired through his months as Shuso and his completion of the Hossen Shiki ceremony.
