Ciska Matthes

Ciska first learned meditation as a teenager in Poona, India. Later, she graduated in Social Psychology. In 1992, she traveled to Africa as a socially engaged journalist. Traumatised and worn out, she felt compelled to turn inward and learned Zen meditation. She moved to Japan to train in a Zen monastery for six years. After this life changing time, she also intensively trained in the Theravada/Vipassana tradition for many years. Always coming back to the Zen Way. Nowadays, Ciska is a mindfulness trainer and yin yoga and hatha/vinyasa yoga teacher. Advaita teachers Ramana Maharshi and Sri Moojibaba became great inspirations to her, helping to deepen her insight. In 2024, she was officially appointed as a Zen teacher with the Dharma name Hosen, at the International Zen Center Noorder Poort, where she frequently leads retreats called Zen & Yoga. In 2023, Ciska published 'Herinneringen aan Harada Tangen roshi' about her intensive Zen training in Japan. Its translation into English is also available, called 'Buddha Sees Everything - My Zen Training Under the Guidance of Japanese Zen Master Harada Tangen'. (as ebook or paperback on lulu)

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