Inicio | ECS LATAM

Nosotros

Empty Cloud Sangha Latam

Zen is a spiritual path that allows you to know who you are without passing judgment. This means that Zen can be practiced by everyone at Empty Cloud Sangha Latam without the need to feel obligated to join or leave a religion. The practice includes Zazen (sitting meditation), attendance at retreats, meditating with others and the possibility of training and guidance from our authorized teachers.

Maestros

OUR STORY

Empty Cloud Sangha Latam was created in 2019 thanks to Randy Wolbert Roshi with the purpose of expanding the teachings of Marsha Linehan Roshi outside the United States & worldwide.

Our most important mission is to replicate the Zen Mindfulness Retreats format created by Marsha Linehan PhD as she did.

This wise person beyond having created the Dialectical Behavioral Therapy had the brilliant idea of incorporating the spiritual part so necessary in the training of trainers of her technique. Through this practice, mental health professionals benefited from this space for self-reflection and interpersonal connection with the sangha, providing a better quality of listening in the treatment of their patients.

Zen Lineage

Randy Wolbert Zen Master

“Serene Cloud” (Jaku-un 穏やかな雲

Roshi (Zen Master) / Spiritual Director of Empty Cloud Sangha & Latam

The Authorized Teacher is a life voting member of the Sanghas' boards of directors.

Randy was a student of Marsha Linehan Roshi and Gregory Mayers Roshi. In 2016 he received authorization to teach in the Empty Cloud Zen Lineage from Willigis Jaeger Roshi. This was confirmed by Linehan Roshi in 2018. Having completed the study of Koans with Mayers he receives transmission as a Zen Master in 2021. Randy is the 89th successor of Shakyamuni Buddha and the 47th successor of Lin-Chi.

THE FOUNDER

Dr. Linehan has studied Spiritual Direction under the guidance of Rev. Tilden Edwards and Gerald May, MD and Christian Contemplation under the personal guidance of Father Willigis Jaeger, OSB, Koun Rōshi, Benedictine monk and Zen master.

She formally began the practice of Zen in 1986 as a student of Fr. Willigis Jaeger Rōshi and in 2002 as a student of Fr. Pat Hawk Rōshi (1942-2012). He has translated aspects of both Zen and Contemplative practices into behaviorally specific instructions for mindfulness practice that can be taught to patients in psychotherapy. She received Dharma Transmission as a Zen Master in the Diamond Sangha (of the Harada-Yasutani tradition Sanbo-Kyodan School) from Pat Hawk in April 2012. She was confirmed as a Zen Master in the Sangha of Empty Cloud (Leere Wolke) by Willigis Jaeger in June 2012.

Dr. Linehan is now fully retired and no longer personally participates in retreats. Empty Cloud Sangha & Latam continues her legacy.

Mindfulness

This practice has its roots in Eastern meditative and Western Christian contemplative traditions. Its contemporary clinical use as a treatment for mental disorders has focused on its essential characteristics, regardless of its origin and spiritual background. In this context, mindfulness is understood as the practice of awareness of "what is" at the level of direct and immediate experience.

It is the practice of living awake, with your eyes wide open; being fully aware of what is happening moment by moment.

The path of mindfulness is a journey without maps or destination, a path to be discovered and experienced dialectically with an attitude of radical acceptance.

It is the door to freedom, wisdom and happiness.

RETREATS

Retreats are a very important part of Zen practice.

It is an opportunity to take a break from everyday activities and immerse yourself in the practice of mindfulness, transcending the background murmur of your mind.

The retreat format adapted by Willigis Jaeger from centuries of Zen practice has been maintained.

That practice was established by Marsha Linehan Roshi in the United States through Empty Cloud Sangha and is being replicated around the world.

These retreats are taught in English with consecutive translation into the local language where it is held.

It is aimed at the general public with or without previous experience in the practice of mindfulness.

Randy Wolbert Roshi is in charge of leading the Mindfulness Zen retreats.

RESEARCH

As part of the actions that Empty Cloud Sangha Latam carries out to disseminate the practice of Zen Mindfulness, there is research on its effects on multiple aspects of comprehensive health and in different areas of human activity.

Within this framework, part of our team is carrying out research on the effectiveness of Zen Mindfulness retreats, both in person and online.

An aspect of particular interest is the importance of the practice of Mindfulness as a protective factor and part of the self-care so necessary for those who carry out activities in the area of health and human services.

We will be sharing with you the results of this ongoing project soon.

LATAM DIRECTOR

Karina Solovieff - Randy Wolbert Roshi's Zen Student

Licensed Psychologist, PhD (ca) in Psychology from the University of Palermo. Dissertation on the effects of Mindfulness Zen retreats on health professionals. Mindfulness Instructor for children and adolescents (Academy for Mindful Teaching - Eline Snel).

She has participated in numerous Zen Mindfulness silent retreats led by Marsha Linehan & Randy Wolbert, being trained as a Room Manager by Ronda Reitz and in the role of Time-Keeper by Julianne Ballon-Casement. He also participated in meditation retreats in other traditions led by Jon & Will Kabat-Zinn, Florence Meleo-Meyer, Saki Santorelli, Judson Brewer, Sharon Salzberg, and Fred Luskin.

She received training in Self-Compassion (Kristin Neff & Chris Germer) and Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) with Zindel Segal & Susan Woods.

Practice

We offer an open invitation to practice Zazen virtually with other members of the Sangha. Zazen is the practice of silent, seated meditation. We sit as a Sangha to demonstrate our interconnectedness as One.

Norms
We request attendees wear modest clothing and have a private area to practice that is not visually distracting to others. Please login before the starting time, keep your camera on and sound off, and stay for the duration of the Zazen period to allow everyone the opportunity to practice together in silence. The bell will ring three times to start 20 minutes of Zazen and ring once to end.

To Join

Meetings are held via Zoom. No registration is necessary. Click the button below to enter the session, or copy/paste the following link.

MONDAY

9.30am West Coast time

Language: english

Únete

THURSDAY

9.00pm (Brazil time)

Language: english & portuguese

Únete

TUESDAY

7.00pm (Argentine time)