Taisen Deshimaru’s work in Europe unfolded from a clear center and then radiated outward. France became the heartland of his activity, the place where he firmly rooted the practice of Zen and from which his teaching naturally extended. There he established his main base, founded numerous dojos, and created an institutional framework for practice and transmission. From this strong foundation, his presence and teaching began to touch other European lands, carried both by his own travels and by the dedication of his disciples.

From that French center, Deshimaru’s influence reached several neighboring countries, where Zen practice groups and dojos began to form under his guidance or inspiration. His teaching spread into Germany and Belgium, where practitioners gathered to sit and study in the spirit he transmitted. It also extended to Switzerland and Italy, where his visits and the work of his students helped give shape to emerging communities of practice. In Spain and the United Kingdom as well, his lineage took root, as affiliated centers arose and continued the style of Soto Zen he had brought.

The Netherlands likewise came within the orbit of his activity, reflecting the broader European resonance of his teaching. Across these countries—France, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands—his presence served as a catalyst, allowing the seeds of Zen to be planted in diverse cultural soils. Although the forms and communities varied from place to place, they all traced their inspiration back to the same source: the living encounter with Deshimaru’s practice and example. In this way, his life’s work became a bridge by which Zen entered and took root across much of Western Europe.