English

Welcome to Associação Zen Flor Silvestre’s webpage!

This page is a short introduction, in English, to the whole website, in Portuguese, to aid non-Portuguese-speaking people to understand what the group is about and how to book any of the annual activities with us.

The Associação Zen Flor Silvestre was formed in Portugal in 2012 by Amy “Tu es Cela” Hollowell, parent of “Association Wild Flower Zen Sangha” formed in France in 2004. We are a non-profit organization and rely solely on members fees and their donations.

We offer three annual retreats in Portugal (Spring, Summer and Autumn) and zen practice groups online and in person in Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto. We also host events that bring together Buddhism, Zen and meditation with various subjects of human activity, such as psychology, creative writing or the visual arts.

The aim of these activities is to bring beginners or more experienced practitioners together and to reinforce individual and collective practice, supporting the profound development of the entire community.

If you would like to become a member of this association, thus supporting our individual and collective practice, please contact us: wildflower.pt@gmail.com.

To learn more about Wild Flower Zen sangha and Roshi Amy Hollowell please visit the Wild Flower Zen pages (English and French).

To receive our newsletter please subscribe here. Through this newsletter, we announce when retreat bookings open and how to book your place.

About our retreats

This document was approved by the Board of Associação Zen Flor Silvestre (AZFS) to aid organization and management of retreats as well as participants’ bookings. Please read it carefully before booking one of our retreats and do not hesitate to contact us should you have any queries to wildflower.pt@gmail.com. Last update: October 2017 1. Types … Continue a ler About our retreats

Spring Retreat

DATES: April 24 to April 28, 2024 VENUE: Instituto Secular Servas do Apostolado (Quinta de Santo António, Almegue. 3040-007 Coimbra). SCHEDULE: Arrival around 18h; Departure around noon. PRICE: €190 **Please note, if you are not a member of Associacao Zen Flor Silvestre and this is your first retreat with us in 2022 we kindly ask that you pay +15 … Continue a ler Spring Retreat

Summer Retreat

DATES: July 27 to August 3, 2024 VENUE: in a private house near Penafiel (an hour northeast from Porto, Portugal) The nearest airport is in Porto. Travelling can be arranged for those arriving from abroad. There are also trains to Penafiel or Cete from the main station at Porto-Campanhã (www.cp.pt). SCHEDULE: Arrival Saturday 16-18h; finish … Continue a ler Summer Retreat

Autumn retreat

DATES: November 30th to December 3rd, 2023 VENUE: Instituto das Servas do Apostolado, Almegue, Coimbra, Portugal SCHEDULE: arrival Thursday 30th by 6PM; end Sunday midday PRICE: 150€ (last places) **Please note, if you are not a member of Associacao Zen Flor Silvestre and this is your first retreat with us in 2023 we kindly ask that you … Continue a ler Autumn retreat

Together at Home (online)

Wild Flower Zen Sangha has been transforming some of its live activities into online equivalents due to the current health situation. This has proven a success with our weekly meditation practices, joining for the first time sangha members from across the globe! With this positive outcome in mind, we are now inviting you for a … Continue a ler Together at Home (online)