火の鳥庵

HINOTORI AN

Firebird Hermitage

火の鳥庵

HINOTORI AN

Firebird Hermitage

A PATH OF DISCOVERING YOUR ORIGINAL SELF

Hinotori-An is a small and simple zen hermitage in the midst of bustling city life. It was founded in 2017 with the aim of supporting those who embark on a personal journey of self-discovery, with the desire to find the original Self.

Hermitage practice is dedicated to self-cultivation, silence and Zen training. Zazen practice is intense, raw, and places weight on one's own experience. The Practice for Urban Practitioners takes the same approach, but with carefully dosed intensity.

The founder and resident teacher is the Buddhist nun Doka sensei, who was ordained in the Soto Zen and Shaolin Chan lineages.

08.04.2026

KANBUTSU-E (Shakyamuni Buddha's birthday)

According to legend, at the time of his birth, two Dragon Kings sent a warm and sweet rain of nectar to bathe the baby Siddhartha (Shakyamuni Buddha), who said: "Heaven, earth and I are One." This is symbolically reflected in the bathing of a statue surrounded by flowers depicting the baby Siddhartha pointing with one index finger to the sky and the other to the earth with sweet tea. Follow the link to register

12.04.2026

HALF-DAY ZAZENKAI

Morning in silent zazen practice; read more by following the link

17.04.2026

HINOTORI AN 10th ANNIVERSARY

Hinotori An anniversary is celebrated through silence and an intensive Zen practice that ends with tea in a relaxed atmosphere.

22.04.2026

THE ANNIVERSARY OF MEIHO MISSEN MICHEL BOVAY DEATH

Like Deshimaru, Master Missen also placed great emphasis on the pure spirit of Zazen practice and the development of a strong foundation that serves as the basis for all actions, both in zen practice so in everyday life. The anniversary of his death is commemorated in the same spirit.

30.04.2026

THE ANNIVERSARY OF MOKUDO TAISEN DESHIMARU DEATH

Taisen Deshimaru brought the essence of Zen in all its freshness and originality to Europe and has therefore been called in Japan the “Bodhidharma of the modern age”. Deshimaru not only succeeded in creating a synthesis between the tradition of the old masters and the material world, but also in making traditional Zen teachings accessible to the Western mind. His death will be commemorated in this spirit - through disciplined Zen practice and extended Mondo sessions covering topics related to the application of Zen practice in everyday life.

INFORMATION

禅堂

ZENDŌ

Hinotori An is located in a residential building only 10 minutes from the Zurich train station. Zazen is performed in a five-tatami-mats Zendo, thus providing space for up to five practitioners.

Sensei lives in seclusion and opens the door for practice only during scheduled appointments.

Registration is mandatory.

Learn More

禅門

PRACTICE GATES

Zazen is more than meditation. It is a state in which sitting is just sitting (Shikantaza), the true self is awakened, and the individual is transcended.

Zen practice in Hinotori An is carried out through symbolic Gates that have the same destination, but open to paths of different intensity:

OMOTEMON 表門 - Front Gate: entering Hinotori An
SANMON 三門 – Main Gate: entering Zen training
CHŪMON 中門 – Middle Gate: entering urban Zen practice
KARAMETEMON 搦手門 – Back Gate: entering engaged path
DAOMEN 道門 – Daoist Gate: entering Daoist cultivation

Learn More

年中行事

ANNUAL EVENTS

Hinotori An offers a series of events that have an intensive Zen practice at their core.

Sesshins of varying duration are essential for students of the Zen Path.

Learn More

YOUR FIRST VISIT

The info meeting is the first step for those who would like to practice at Hinotori An. Sensei is always ready to provide support, but since she keeps to seclusion and silence, this is only possible during the scheduled time or by appointment.

Hinotori An is not a public space, so visitors to the hermitage are asked to respect the privacy and peace of the building's occupants.

SENSEI

Sensei

DOKA 道河 (aka Maja Z Mikos)

DoKa is Bodhisattva name with the meaning "the course of the Path"

Doka is the founder and resident teacher in Hinotori An 火の鳥庵. Before fully devoting herself to the spiritual life, she lived as a lay Zen nun to fulfill her role as a mother. During the period of her secular life, she obtained academic degrees in various fields (Dr.rer.nat., MSc, FRM).

Doka has been dedicated to spiritual development since childhood and has over 50 years of experience in various Western and Eastern spiritual teachings and practices. With the Guiyi ( 皈依 ) ceremony in 2002 (2546, per Buddhist calendar) Doka was accepted into the 34th generation of the Shaolin Chan brotherhood by Abbess Shi Yong Mei ( 释永梅 ) of Yongtai Nunnery (Yongtaisi 永泰寺), when she was given the name Shi Yan Sa ( 释延萨). She was ordained as a Zen priest by Master Meicho Missen Bovay during the winter Ango in 2003. She realised Original Nature in 2002, after which she lived retreated for shorter or longer periods in Asia and Europe to complete her spiritual refinement. She fully exited secular life in 2015. Presently she lives in Zürich.

Doka utilises her background to establish a unique style of Zen Buddhist training – a fusion of traditional and modern insights. Her training emphasises direct experience, the power of silence, and exposing of the Ego's triggers. Since she focuses on “every-moment-zen” and “no-idle talk” practices, Hinotori An may not be suitable for those looking for casual practice, relaxation or socialisation.