About Us
ZGWA started in 1983 with a small group of people sitting in a private home in Mt. Claremont, Perth. It is affiliated with the Diamond Sangha tradition of Zen Buddhism, which was founded in Hawaii in 1959 by Robert Aitken Roshi. His book, "Taking the Path of Zen", is a wonderful introduction to Zen Practice, available for purchase from the Zendo.
Our lineage comes from the Sanbo Kyodan (the Order of the Three Treasures), started by Harada Roshi in Japan in the early part of the 20th century. Harada Roshi taught a unique method of Zen practice. He amalgamated the heart teachings from the two main schools, Soto and Rinzai, to make a practice suitable for lay students. The Diamond Sangha tradition uses rituals from the Soto and Rinzai schools, with mediation practices of Shikantaza from the Soto school and koan training from the Rinzai school.
Aitken Roshi was one of the first Western students of Zen Buddhism. He studied with Senzaki Nyogen Sensei in Los Angeles in the late 1940's, travelling frequently to Japan to practice in monasteries and lay centres. He studied with Nakagawa Soen Roshi and completed his formal Zen training with Yasutani Haku'un Roshi, and Yamada Ko'un Roshi. In 1974, he was given authority to teach by Yamada Roshi, the Abbot of the Sanbo Kyodan school in Kamakura. Yamada Roshi gave Aitken Roshi full Dharma transmission in 1985.
The Diamond Sangha tradition follows the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, practiced and passed on from Shakyamuni Buddha in India, through China and Japan, from Japan to Hawaii, and now to Australia. Diamond Sangha communities integrate this ancient tradition into their lives in contemporary cultures throughout the world. Drawing on the great Japanese schools, our sangha offers a rich and authentic environment for the study of ZenBuddhism. Our senior teacher is Ross Bolleter Roshi, who supervises new Zen teachers and assists with the founding of new groups throughout Australia and New Zealand. Bolleter Roshi received transmission from Robert Aitken Roshi in 1995. Ian Sweetman Roshi is the resident teacher in Perth, authorised in 2001 by Bolleter Roshi.
The group holds formal meditation (zazen) every week and regular intensive Zen meditation retreats (sesshin) several times a year. Orientation is held for newcomers, open and welcoming to all who want to find out more about Zen Buddhism.