According to tradition, a Buddhist monk named Bodhidharma, who lived in about the 5th or 6th century CE, brought the meditation form of Buddhism from India to China. We have no idea if he really existed or not, but there are writings attributed to him. His Indian word for meditation was dhyana and this was transliterated in Chinese as channa which then got abbreviated to Chan. Thus was born the various schools of Chan Buddhism which had its early phase in China around 600-900 CE. Two of the main Chinese schools of Chan were the Caodong School founded by Dongshan Liangjie (807-869, Jp Tozan Ryokai) and Caoshan Benji (840-901, Jp Sozan Honjaku).

Another major Chan school was that formed by Linji Yixuan (died 866 CE, Jp Rinzai Gigen). The Caodong School became associated with sitting mediation as a way to enlightenment whereas Linji’s school favored gong-an work (Jp. koans) and using Hua Tou (‘word head’ – mini koans). The Linji School of Zen was brought to Japan by the monk Myoan Eisai in around 1168 where it became known as « Rinzai » Zen (Rinzai being the Japanese pronounciation of the Chinese word Linji).

And the Caodong School was brought to Japan by Dogen Zenji (1200-1253) and became known as Soto Zen — the first two letters of the founders names in Japanese Sozan and Tozan). Keizan Zenji (1268-1325; aka Taiso Josai Daishi ) is also considered a co-founder of Japanese Soto Zen and we trace our lineage back particularly to both Keizan and Dogen, as well as to the roots of Chan in China with Donshan Liangjie and Linji, along with other key teachers of that era such as Dahui Zonggaoe (1089-1163) who introduced the idea of Hua Tou and Hongzhi Zhengjue who emphasized Shikantaza (« just sitting ») which Dogen went on to particularly emphasize in his teachings. Historically, there has been much disagreement among Zen teachers, some saying meditation is the only way to enlightenment, others saying that koan work is the only way.

At StillCenter we teach that there are many dharma gates, many paths by which a person may wake up to who they truly are and we thus embrace both traditional practice forms.

 Koan Introspection with Roshi Ryuko

Roshi Ryuko is taking on a limited number of Students to train in koan introspection. Most students will have previous experience of doing koan introspection with another teacher, although Roshi Ryuko does occasionally take on new students who have not had prior koan work experience. As a formal student of koan introspection, you will be expected to maintain a « Training Membership » in Still Center. Koan work usually takes the form of approximately 30-minute Zoom sessions on a regular basis (usually weekly, but frequency is flexible), and Roshi accepts students from anywhere worldwide but sessions are conducted in English only.

If you wish to inquire about doing koan introspection with Roshi Ryuko, then email us

For you information, the koan collections Roshi teaches include:
The Still Center Koan Curriculum includes:

The Still Center 107 starting koans

The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan)

The Blue Cliff Record (Hekiganroku)

Book of Serenity/Equanimity (Shōyōroku)

The Transmission of the Light ( Denkōroku)

Entangling Vines

(Completion of a substantial part of all these koans is required for full transmission as a Zen Teacher/Sensei. Students who have completed part of the curriculum may be given transmission as an Assistant Teacher and those who complete the curriculum may receive transmission as a full teacher and be eligible to membership of the White Plum Asanga Teachers Worldwide in the lineage of Maezumi Roshi )

Yet, note that Koan Training for Soto Zen Teachers isn’t available in person in Europe at the moment. We hope to train Zen Teachers and offer such services in the coming years. People wanting to train in our Koan curriculum must apply for training with Ryuko Roshi by email.