The Melbourne Zen Group is a small group of Zen practitioners who meditate together, study Zen together and support each other’s practice. Our group is affiliated with the Diamond Sangha, a lay lineage that has roots in both the Rinzai and Soto schools of Zen Buddhism. Our practices include shikantaza and koan practice.
History
Our group was formed in 1985 by a handful of people who attended zen retreats with Robert Aitken Roshi.
Teachers
In 1999, Subhana Barzaghi Roshi (based in NSW) agreed to be our group’s teacher. In 2002, Susan Murphy Roshi (also based in NSW) agreed to share this commitment with Subhana. Subhana and Susan visit Melbourne twice a year to teach at Melbourne Zen Group retreats and workshops.
In 2023, long-time group member Kirk Fisher was authorised by Susan Murphy to teach as a Zen Roshi in his own right. Kirk became our group’s local teacher in 2024, offering talks at our CERES dojo, teaching alongside Susan and Subhana in retreats, and offering regular doksuan (private interviews about Zen practice).
We also occasionally invite other teachers in the Diamond Sangha lineage to offer talks at CERES.
Values
Inspired by our Zen Buddhist ethics and precepts, we support actions to progress peace, social justice, gender equality and environmental sustainability. Social justice includes an affirmation of social inclusion and diversity. We strive to do no harm, and to deeply appreciate that we are not separate from other sentient beings or the earth.
Read about the Bodhisattva Vows & Precepts
Structure
The Melbourne Zen Group is an incorporated association with a steady membership of around 70 people. Our committee has overall responsibility for group governance and meets monthly. We also have a small group of practice facilitators who meet every couple of months to reflect on how the group can better support both established members and newcomers to Zen practice. Many of our members have had some kind of hands-on involvement in running the group’s activities at different points in time.
Our group aspires to be non-hierarchical and our Committee seeks out, and takes into account, all relevant perspectives when it makes decisions. Decisions of particular significance to the group are explored in Sangha Forums (meetings that all members are invited to attend/contribute to), using facilitation methods that encourage participation and encourage mutual understanding of differing views.
Melbourne Zen Group 