About us
The Bodhidharma Zendo is an association dedicated to the practice of Rinzai Zen Buddhism. The association was founded in 1979; there are Bodhidharma Zendos in Vienna, Graz and Klagenfurt, as well as the BergZendo Zen seminar centre on the Hohe Wand. The current abbot is Seigaku Kigen Oshō, a Rinzai Zen priest who began his monastic training in 1990.
History of the Bodhidharma Zendo
Zen in Austria
It all began with a small Zen group led by Franz Ritter, which had been practising since 1976 at the Buddhist Centre at Dannebergplatz, 1030 Vienna. In the summer of 1979, Seiun Genro Dai Oshō returned to Vienna from the USA. Soon after his arrival, membership increased sharply. The newly founded Bodhidharma Zendo—and with it the Buddhist Centre—moved in early 1980 to the building at Fleischmarkt 16, 1010 Vienna. From the very beginning, Zazen was offered regularly on three evenings a week under the guidance of Seiun Genro Dai Oshō. Later, early-morning sitting periods were added twice a week.
Since the early 1980s the Bodhidharma Zendo has regularly held Sesshins and Zazenkais (retreats, that is, meditation weekends). Initially at the Buddhist Centre in Scheibbs, which Seiun Genro Dai Oshō helped to build up, and since 2016 at the BergZendo, our present meditation and seminar centre on the Hohe Wand. In addition, Zazen days and night sittings/Yaza (Zen meditation), Dharma study (Zen teaching) and introductory courses are held regularly at the city Zendo in Vienna.
Until 1999, Genro’s teacher—Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Rōshi—also came to Austria regularly to give Dharma talks, lead Sesshins and practise Kōan practice with the Sangha. Many of our members travelled time and again to the Mount Baldy Zen Center (USA) to practise Zen with Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Rōshi. Some of them stayed at Mt. Baldy for several years, and some were ordained by Rōshi as Zen monks/nuns and Oshōs (priests). In other Zen lineages, two of Genro’s students were also ordained as Rōshis.
In 1989 Seiun Genro Dai Oshō was appointed “Acting Rōshi” (Zen master). He was thereby authorised to give Sanzen, or Koan practice. This form of practice is an essential characteristic of the Rinzai school. Numerous members were able to pursue it with him until his death. Seiun Genro Dai Oshō died in November 2010.
In March 2012 Seigaku Kigen Oshō took over the spiritual leadership of the Bodhidharma Zendo. Under his guidance, Zen retreats and events are held regularly in Vienna and at the BergZendo Hohe Wand.
The Verein zur Förderung des Zen-Buddhismus
The association was founded in 1979 by Seiun Genro Dai Oshō. It forms the outer, legal framework of the Bodhidharma Zendo. The board consists of the chairperson, the treasurer, a secretary and further members. It handles all administrative tasks of the association. These include managing memberships, running the seminar sites in Vienna and on the Hohe Wand, overall responsibility for financial management and other administrative concerns.
The association membership is a prerequisite for regular Zen practice at the Bodhidharma Zendo. Around 160 members, some of them since the association was founded, help to keep this long-established, active Sangha developing and alive.
The Rinzai-ji Order Austria
The order was founded in 1983 by Seiun Genro Dai Oshō. This took place in the course of the recognition of the Austrian Buddhist Religious Society (ÖBR). It follows the tradition of Rinzai Zen and the teaching of Kyozan Joshu Sasaki Rōshi. The role of abbot was held by Seiun Genro Dai Oshō until November 2010. In March 2012 Seigaku Kigen Oshō took over the spiritual leadership of the Bodhidharma Zendo. Since the end of November 2019, Seigaku Kigen Oshō has been abbot of the Rinzai-ji Order of Austria.
The members of the order endeavour, on the basis of the Bodhisattva vow they have taken, to practise to the best of their ability and to support the Sangha as they can. The order is a member of the ÖBR (Austrian Buddhist Religious Society) and regularly sends a member to the ÖBR Sangha Council. The members of the order support the Sangha in its spiritual practice under the guidance of the abbot. In particular, they contribute to maintaining this practice in Vienna’s city centre and at the BergZendo Hohe Wand.
Admission to the order is by personal application or by invitation from the abbot. The prerequisites are several years of Zen practice and taking the Bodhisattva vow (Jukai ceremony, through which one professes Buddhism).
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Press Review:
Niederösterreichische Nachrichten, 2025-05-08. https://m.noen.at/wr-neustadt/bauliche-erweiterung-spendenaufruf-fuer-zubau-des-meditationszentrums-hohe-wand-472722838 → The BergZendo Hohe Wand launched an appeal for donations for a structural expansion of the meditation centre in order to better accommodate the continued strong interest in Buddhist seminars.
Genro Koudela, Wikipedia, https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genro_Koudela
→ Biographical overview of the Austrian Zen priest and Bodhidharma Zendo founder Genro Koudela.
Hohe Wand: Old inn as a spiritual centre for Buddhism, Kurier, 2025-04-09
https://kurier.at/chronik/niederoesterreich/hohe-wand-buddhismus-gasthaus-meditation/403030582?
→ The article reports on the expansion at the BergZendo, which is building a larger meditation hall due to the high demand for the Buddhist seminars held there.
Jukai ceremony at the BergZendo, ORF2, programme “Orientierung”, April 8, 2018.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IX9OgtwF2iI
→ This video shows a Jukai ceremony at the BergZendo Hohe Wand, recorded by ORF for the programme “Orientierung”.
Mowing and Sewing, ORF, January 12, 2019.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G63QiWsNoL8
→ This video deals with the special importance of work in Zen practice and was broadcast by ORF.
Buddha’s Path to Austria, ORF.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PbuSgrYM8M (last accessed: March 2025).
→ Overview of the development of Buddhism in Austria using historical and current examples, including footage filmed at the Bodhidharma Zendo Vienna (min. 2:35–3:31 and 4:20–5:02)
ORF Religion: Buddhism on the Hohe Wand – An inn becomes a Zendo, March 19, 2023.
https://religion.orf.at/v3/stories/2768318/
→ Report on the conversion of an inn on the Hohe Wand into a Buddhist meditation centre (BergZendo).
ORF Religion: Path of Enlightenment – Claudia Martini as a Lay Nun, February 19, 2025.
https://religion.orf.at/v3/tv/stories/3005401/
→ This portrait shows actress Claudia Martini, who lives as a Buddhist lay nun.
Wegkreuzungen – Genro Seiun Osho, ed. 2010.
https://www.booklooker.de/B%C3%BCcher/keine-Angabe+Wegkreuzungen-Genro-Seiun-Osho-70-Geburtstag-15-Jahre-Lehrt%C3%A4tigkeit-in-%C3%96sterreich-Hrsg/id/A02qBqcI01ZZ2
→ Commemorative publication for the 70th birthday and 15th teaching anniversary of Genro Seiun Dai Osho in Austria.
No one may sit when we sit. Dharma talks from the years 1982 to …, Genro Koudela.
https://bokelskere.no/bok/es-darf-niemand-sitzen-wenn-wir-sitzen-dharma-vortraege-aus-den-jahren-1982-bis/657692/
→ Collection of Dharma talks by Genro Dai Oshō from several decades of Buddhist teaching activity.
Sr. Brigitta Raith: Vienna St. Stephen’s Cathedral, ZEN Garden, Ö1, August 9, 2020.
https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20200809/608075
→ Radio feature about Zen meditation in the centre of Vienna, combined with spiritual engagement at St. Stephen’s Cathedral, as well as about the Zen garden in Schönbrunn with Kigen Osho
Spirituality and Engagement, Ö1, November 19, 2023.
https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20231119/739896
→ Programme about the connection between inner practice and social engagement in Buddhism, visit to the Bodhidharma Zendo
The Will – Radiokolleg, Ö1, May 9, 2022.
https://oe1.orf.at/programm/20220509/678451
→ Multi-part series on the role of will in philosophy, psychology, and spiritual practice.
ORF Religion: Zen practice today: everyday life, mindfulness, silence, 2025.
https://religion.orf.at/v3/radio/stories/3005394/
→ Feature on contemporary Zen practice in Austria, with interviews and examples from practice.
Silence on the Mountain, Niederösterreichische Nachrichten (NÖN), Bettina Kreuter, April 16, 2016.
https://www.noen.at/wr-neustadt/schweigen-am-berg-top-12439110
→ Local newspaper report on the retreat programme and contemplative practice at the BergZendo Hohe Wand.