Site web de la Sangha sans demeure et de Philippe Rei Ryu Coupey
Welcome to the web page of the Sangha Sans Demeure, an international group of friends and disciples of the monk Rei Ryu Philippe Coupey.
Philippe Coupey was a close disciple of Master Deshimaru. Today he practices and teaches in Paris. He also directs sesshin (retreats) in Germany and France, amongst others at La Gendronnière, the temple of the International Zen Association (AZI)
“I have no doubt whatsoever concerning the absolute necessity of sitting in front of a wall with no purpose and no goal,” declares Zen monk Rei Ryu Philippe Coupey in the first chapter of his latest book, Zen, Simply Sitting.
But “a long practice is not always easy,” he admits, “especially when you realize that it involves putting up with other people.”
Coupey’s candor and conviction permeate Simply Sitting, his commentaries on Master Eihei Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, a central text in the Zen tradition. Written by Dogen in 1227 and revised by him in 1242-43, the original “Universal Guide to the Practice of Seated Meditation” is a short work which aims to transmit the essence of Zen practice as Dogen learned it from his master, Tendo Nyojo. It contains a surprising amount of concrete how-to (“place your right foot on your left thigh…”), but also refers to important moments and figures in Zen history to explain why such practice is necessary.
“I think that everyone who practices zazen should know this text,” says Coupey in his preface to the book. “Not necessarily by heart…but by thoroughly understanding its meaning.” His commentaries will help today’s reader do just that. Coupey has a gift for making the here and now part of the natural flow of Zen history, subtly showing us how the teaching and practice continue much as they did hundreds, even thousands of years ago: the master-disciple relationship, the posture, our distractions and failings, our aspiration to something higher.
His distinct mixture of old and new can be seen in the list of the “Zen” stories he tells in the course of the book, where the well-known “Gutei Holds Up His Thumb” and “The Parable of the Lost Son” appear alongside “Shusso Can’t Find the Rave Party” and “Two Motorbikes for the Monk.” This inclusion of the contemporary actually gives the book a timeless quality, and makes us feel a real connection with the Zen ancestors.
| Hohm Press, Prescott Arizona, 2006 $17.95 |
| 120 pages |
| ISBN:978-1-890772-61-1 |
| paperback 5.5 X 8.5 inches |
Zen, Simply Sitting is published by Hohm Press, a publishing house founded by the Western Baul guru Lee (“Mr. Lee”) Lozowick (1943-2010).
![[Philippe Coupey and Lee Lozowick laughing and enjoying a cup coffee at an outdoor table of the Café de la Liberté, Paris.]](https://stage.zen-road.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Coupey_Lozowick3.jpg "Coupey and Lozowick at the Café de la Liberté, Paris, 2005.")
![[Philippe Coupey, in khaki jacket and black ski hat, arm and arm with Lee Lozowick, who sports a rainbow beret and a grey braid down to his waist, on the rue de la Gaité in Paris.]](https://stage.zen-road.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/Coupey_Lozowick5.jpg "Master and Guru: Coupey and Lozowick on the Rue de la Gaité, Paris, 2005.")
Phlippe Couepy and Lee Lozowick at the Café de la Liberté, Paris Montparnasse
To sit “without objective” – This meditation practice, zazen, is considered to be the essence of Zen by the Soto School, the realisation of the full dimension of each person’s life.
Without being limited by a goal or seeking profit.
Thus, in our school, spiritual commitments, such as ordinations, teaching responsibilities, etc … are not granted definitively but need to be constantly updated by the practice within the sangha (community of practitioners).
This is what is called in the Buddhist tradition, using the three treasures – Buddha, Dharma, Sangha.
In line with the spirit of Master Deshimaru and his master Kodo Sawaki, we practice zazen within our everyday social and professional lives and those who teach are volunteers.
We are part of the International Zen Association founded by Master Deshimaru and we are organized administratively into a federation of many “dojo” (places of practice) in several countries in Europe.
Thus the Sangha Sans Demeure has chosen not to build a temple but to carry on the tradition of ‘no fixed abode’, organizing the practice in various temporary halls.
Furthermore, in order to promote communication and organization of joint sesshins among all former disciples of Master Deshimaru, we are developing a project to create a larger meeting platform called “Zen Simply Sitting..”
[Ch. Espiau, B. Schütz, F. Lang]
L’abonnement par mail aux enseignements de Philippe Coupey est un abonnement hebdomadaire (un envoi par semaine sauf pendant les deux mois d’été); il concerne les kusens journaliers donnés par Philippe dans les deux dojos parisiens (au DZP et à Seine Zen). La cotisation est de 10€ par an.
Il existe également un abonnement aux kusens de sesshin : quatre envois par an — il s’agit d’un choix de kusens donnés pendant les sesshin et non de l’intégralité de ces kusens. La cotisation est de 5€ par an.
Si vous êtes intéressés, merci d’envoyer un mail à julietteheymann@orange.fr
Zen Sans demeure
ohnebleibe@gmail.com