Sheffield

About Us

About Us


Our Rinzai lineage Zen Master and Mentor, Ryūsen Jikai Roshi (Barbara Gabrys), has studied Rinzai Zen for many years. The foundation of her Zen practice was provided by Kyudo Nakagawa Roshi, Eizan Goto Roshi and Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi. She is a registered Meditation and Mindfulness teacher with Zenways. She then studied with and received Dharma transmission in November 2016, from Shinzan Miyamae Roshi, in the Hakuin-Inzan line of the Rinzai tradition. She continues to deepen her Zen practice under the mentorship of Melody Eshin Cornell Roshi. Her international research experience has made her aware of the need to bridge the gap between different cultures and especially the Eastern and Western ways of life. She believes that cultivation of well-being, with double focus on concentration and openness, will lead to the recognition of true inter-connectivity between all sentient beings. To this end she combines various philosophical and practical Zen approaches in her teaching. She is a member of Lay Zen Teachers Association (LZTA) . Further information about Jikai Roshi can be found in the Contact list.


Rinzai Zen Roshi, Ryūshin Shindō Genshō (Richard Jones), has been a Buddhist since 1983. He has practised Iyengar Yoga since 1973, and combines it with other types of Yoga, Tai Chi and Qigong exercises. He has practised Zen from 1984, being originally a student of Daidō (Yamahata) Hōgen Roshi (Abbot of Chogen-ji Temple, Japan; founder of the 'Open Way Association'). Genshō's initial discovery of Zen occured during PhD studies in Photo-chemistry/biochemistry. He eventually took Jukai (precepts) with Hōgen Roshi in March 1998. Genshō later studied with Daisetsu (Harada) Tangen Roshi, (Sōtō Abbot of Bukkoku-ji Zen Temple, Obama-shi, Japan), recieving Tokudo (monk) ordination there in January 2009. A few years later Tangen Roshi became ill, retired and eventually passed on. Without a teacher, Genshō met Daizan Roshi, who introduced him to Shinzan Miyamae Roshi. Shinzan started Genshō on the koan Mū and passed him at basic level. However, still loyal to Sōtō, Genshō decided to study with Tenshin Fletcher Roshi in California. Later he realized that Rinzai was more appropriate for him and the UK. He returned to study koans with Daizan Roshi. Through Daizan, Genshō began lay teaching as a Zenways Meditation and Mindfulness teacher (2015). He then transferred to 'ZenSpace', becoming a Junior Rinzai Zen-teacher (07/12/17) and a full Rinzai Zen-teacher (24/08/19), under the direction of Ryūsen Jikai Roshi (Barbara Gabrys) (see above). Genshō received the schools Transmission (14/04/21) and Inka Shomei (02/10/21) as Roshi, from Ryūsen Jikai Roshi and continues to be mentored under her direction, following the teachings of Shinzan Miyamae Roshi in the Hakuin-Inzan line of Rinzai Zen. He also leads Sheffield ZenSpace and ArrivingHome. Genshō is a member of Lay Zen Teachers Association (LZTA).


Kaishin Zendō (Alison Churchill) has been a zen practitioner since 2013, she took Jukai precepts in 2016 and qualified as a junior Rinzai-Zen teacher on the 24/08/19. She is engaged in koan study, initially with Julian Daizan Skinner Roshi and currently with Ryūsen Jikai (Barbara Gabrys) Roshi (see above). She lived in Japan for a number of years and holds an MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Sheffield's School of East Asian Studies, where she worked for 13 years. She is now an artist and leads regular Zen Brushwork sessions in Sheffield, (see Events), which involve meditation, energy-raising exercises and Zen calligraphy using a large brush.