Moderator: Isabel Aparecida Felix (CES)


About

According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 320 million people are currently suffering from depression and by 2020 this will be the most disabling illness in the world. Can Zen Buddhism help in dealing with depression? - This concern is at the centre of the roundtable promoted by Policredos, and will be attended by Cláudia Dias Batista de Souza (Monja Coen) to discuss it. On this occasion, the Brazilian nun will reflect on this issue from her personal experiences with depression and her knowledge of the practices of Zen Buddhism and will hold an autograph session from the book O sofrimento é opcional – Como o Zen Budismo pode ajudar a lidar com a depressão, which will be released in Portugal by Editora 20|20.

She began her Buddhist studies at Zen Center of Los Angeles - ZCLA and ordained nun in Japan where she lived for 12 years, eight of these first years at the Buddhist Zen Convent of Nagoya, Aichi Senmon Nisodo and Tokubetsu Nisodo. She graduated from the Masters of Tradition Soto Shu. She is the first woman and first person of non-Japanese origin to assume the Presidency of the Federation of Buddhist Sects of Brazil and Founding Primate of the Zen Buddhist Community, established in 2001, based in the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Coen is an author of several books, speaker at schools, universities, TV and radio shows and YouTube. In addition to being someone engaged in interreligious dialogue, in the establishment of a culture of peace, justice, healing of the earth and all living beings.

Activity under POLICREDOS - Observatory on Religion in Public Space