The passing of Master Kosen – 49 days of online Zazen

Stéphane, Master Kosen Thibaut, left this world on Sunday, September 21, 2025. May our thoughts and prayers, filled with gratitude and deep love, accompany him on his path of light 🙏

(Last photo taken on Saturday, September 20, at the Montpellier dojo.)

In the Zen Buddhist tradition, a 49-day zazen practice, day and night, takes place when a master passes away. This tradition was followed by Master Deshimaru upon the passing of his master Kodo Sawaki, then by Master Deshimaru’s disciples, including Master Kosen, upon his passing in 1982. Stéphane slept at the dojo and had to lead the night zazen sessions, he told us recently in Montpellier.

Today, in agreement with the council, the Kosen sangha is carrying on this tradition and, with new technologies, allowing all practitioners to do these 49 days of zazen together, no matter where they are.

Schedule for the 49 days

We will begin after the ceremony held at the Montpellier dojo: Saturday, September 27 at 12:30 p.m. Europe (CET) / 7:30 a.m. Argentina (UTC-3).

The council has scheduled the memorial ceremony, which will mark the end of the 49 days, at the Yujo Nyusanji temple on Sunday, November 9 at 5:00 p.m. Europe (CET) / 1:00 p.m. Argentina (UTC-3). The virtual dojo will be connected to this ceremony, so you can participate from home if you are unable to travel to the temple.

This program is not 49 days but 43 days and 5 hours of practice. However, it is 49 days after Stéphane’s death on Sunday, September 21.

The zazens take place in silence in 30-minute sequences: 25 minutes of zazen and 5 minutes of kinhin.

The person responsible for a session faces the camera with the microphone on. They announce the start of zazen and kinhin with a bell. For example, three strokes at 12:30 p.m. and two strokes at 12:55 p.m. If they do not have a bell, they can say “zazen” or “kinhin.”

Why 49 days in this virtual dojo?

• We want to do the 49 days to show our faith in the authenticity of Master Kosen’s mission.
• Our dojos do not have enough practitioners separately to do this in person.
• Between Latin America and Europe, we can cover the nights, as Argentina is five hours ahead of Europe (or four hours ahead after October 26).
• This allows us to join together in this effort with the entire Kosen sangha.

How to enter the virtual dojo

1. Download Zoom
2. Connect to room 9070503010 with the password kosen
3. Sit in zazen and make sure your hands and head are visible, three-quarters of the way around, with good lighting.
4. You can enter and leave every hour and half hour. Example: 12:00 p.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., 1:30 p.m., etc.
5. ⁠Enter and leave quietly, without disturbing anyone, with your microphone muted.
6. Stay as long as you wish, in 30-minute increments, remaining still.
7. If the session is interrupted, reconnect.
8. If there is a leader, they will guide you with the bell.
9. If you are the only person present, continue anyway.

For more information, see the page: How does it work?