Thank you for coming to this page and I hope you will come to Kin-Hin centre.
Kin-Hin is a zen meditation centre established in the summer of 2012 and inaugurated by Zen Master AMA Samy on December 10th 2012
Please see May news for current programme.
You are most welcome to attend ‘sittings’ (free of charge) for it was said by Koun Yamada in his book The Gateless Gate that “to sit zazen alone is so difficult it is almost impossible. For effective Zazen it is very important to practise sitting with a group, at least occasionally, if you want to get results”.
The centre is located just outside Kovalam; by Kovalam Junction and a short ride or a 20 min walk to Kovalam beach; 12 kms Trivandrum city and 5 minute walk to the Samudra beach area.
Kin-Hin (being a private home) is primarily a non-residential Zen centre, although accommodation is available for house guests in a 3 bedroomed self contained apartment on the ground floor for those that prefer to stay away from the main tourist area and experience Indian village life.
The main idea of the centre is to establish a regular Zen Meditation ‘sitting’ group, (free of charge and open to all), in the same tradition as taught at Bodhi Zendo; a residential zen centre in the hills of Tamil Nadu
At Kin-Hin we will follow the Soto practise of Shikantaza – the Japanese term for ‘just sitting’.
There is a daily practise: morning Zazen (meditation sittings) from 6.30am – 7.30am; two 25 minute sittings that one can join at ’kinhin’(the walking meditation between the sittings.)
Evenings, Zazen is from 5.30pm – 6.30pm.
Two 25 minute sittings that one can join at 5.30 or 6pm
Sunday evenings will be ‘holiday’. No yoga class @ 4pm or meditation @ 5.30pm
THE TIMES OF THE SITTINGS MAY CHANGE ACCORDING TO PREFERENCES. PLEASE CHECK WITH ME IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO COME FOR THE FIRST TIME.
Those with no experience will be able to attend a short introduction before commencing group sittings if they wish. Contact Karen to arrange.
According to interest, there will be some half or full day ‘Zazenkai’s': a more intensive period of meditation with a talk about Zen and an opportunity to ask questions and talk with each other.
See ZAZENKAI for programme details and see MAY News for the latest updates!
In keeping with spiritual custom, I do not wish to make any charge for the daily meditation practise. In order to help the centre grow and to keep it running, donations of any amount will be gratefully received.
Also see guide services
A little about me; my name is Karen and I came to India in 1997 for a three week holiday and decided to make Kerala my home. For 10 years I ran yoga & massage holidays in Kovalam.
From 2007 until mid 2012, I lived, worked, served and followed Zen at Bodhi Zendo, blessed to have guidance and support from Zen Master AMA Samy.
They were years I will always cherish and although at times I thought I might never leave Bodhi Zendo, the time came for for me to move on, return to the ‘marketplace’ and begin a new chapter.
Aromatherapy Massage treatments are given at Kin-Hin for a nominal charge. I am a qualified aromatherapist with over 18 years’ experience. My diploma in Holistic Aromatherapy was obtained from The Tisserand Institute in London in 1993.
Yoga Classes are in the afternoon @ 4pm Monday - Saturday
A selection of products are available for sale at Kin-Hin;
Zafu’s, Zabutions and meditation benches.
Fr.AMA’s books and Teisho recordings.
Chasing the tale of Self – a collection of Zen stories which I compiled.
Aromatherapy oils and other health related items.
Home & gift ideas.
See the website shop page if you are unable to visit personally.
This website will grow as the centre evolves. Meanwhile here is a good Zen story for you - Inner Archery
Early in this century a Japanese Zen master who lived in a temple in the country had as his pupil the wife of the greengrocer of near-by village. Among his other pupils was a Cabinet Minister, who used to visit him once a week to sit in meditation for two hours then have an interview. A newspaper sent a reporter to visit teacher, and the pressman remarked, ‘Why do you waste your in a remote place like this? Wouldn’t it be better to come near the capital? Then instead of the greengrocer’s wife, you could have more pupils like the Cabinet Minister.’
In his article, the reporter described ruefully how the teacher had scolded him for this remark. ‘It is not a question of being the green- grocer’s wife or being a Cabinet Minister, but of not being a green- grocer’s wife and not being a Cabinet Minister.
We teach archery here. She has to shoot herself out of being the greengrocer’s wife into the Buddha-nature which she really is, and he has to shoot himself out of being a Cabinet Minister into the Buddha-nature which he really is. And it may very well be,’ added the master, ‘that it will be easier for her to shoot herself out of being “only the greengrocer’s wife” than it will be for him to shoot himself out of being “His Excellency the Cabinet Minister”.
Gassho Karen