My name is Christian von Wolkahof; my Buddhist name is Jikishin. I am the father of three sons, architect and ordained Zen monk, Zenteacher and Lineageholder (Sensei) of the Japanese Soto School in the White Plum Lineage of Hakuju Taizan Maezumi, Roshi and Dennis Genpo Merzel, Roshi. I have been a student of Genpo Roshi since 1989. As co-founder of Kanzeon Sangha Deutschland e.V. and Kanzeon Zen-Zentrum Düsseldorf, I managed the center together with my then wife Marci Forand until the end of 2007.
Since early 2008, we lived with our children Carl and Toni for five years in the “Kanzeon Zen Center International” (Temple Hosshinji) in Salt Lake City, USA. Under the direction of Abbot Genpo Merzel Roshi, we were responsible for the training of the monks, nuns and lay people living there.
I have a special interest in translating the old – partly monastic – principles of Zen into modern language, western lifestyle and northern climate.
I am living as public employee, family man and Zen-Teacher in Düsseldorf. Drawing on the experience of my monastic training, I want to combine Zen Buddhist principles and daily life into a vivid and meaningful practice.