Willigis Jäger facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Willigis Jäger
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Jäger in 2010
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| Born | 7 March 1925 Hösbach, Bavaria, Germany
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| Died | 20 March 2020 (aged 95) Holzkirchen, Bavaria, Germany
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Willigis Jäger (7 March 1925 – 20 March 2020) was a German Catholic priest and a Benedictine monk. He was also a Zen master, which means he was a skilled teacher of Zen meditation. Jäger helped create special places for people to learn about Zen and practice meditation.
Contents
Willigis Jäger's Life Story
Willigis Jäger was born on March 7, 1925, in a town called Hösbach in Germany. When he was 21 years old, in 1946, he joined the Benedictine order at Münsterschwarzach Abbey. Benedictines are a group of Christian monks who live together in a community and follow certain rules.
Early Studies and Work
From 1948, Jäger studied philosophy and theology. These are subjects that explore big questions about life and religion. In 1952, he became a priest. He also worked as a teacher at the abbey's school. Later, he helped with mission and development for a youth group called the Bund der Deutschen Katholischen Jugend. He also worked for Missio, a group that sent him on trips to different countries, including Japan.
Learning and Teaching Zen
In 1972, Jäger began to study Zen in Japan. Zen is a type of Buddhism that focuses on meditation and finding inner peace. He studied for six years with important Zen teachers. In 1980, he was allowed to teach Zen himself. He taught in a special Zen tradition called Sanbo Kyodan.
In 1983, Jäger started a center for Zen and contemplation at the Münsterschwarzach Abbey. Contemplation is a deep way of thinking or meditating. He also helped create the Würzburg School of Contemplation. He taught Zen until 2009.
New Beginnings and Foundations
Later, some Catholic leaders had questions about his teachings. In 2003, he decided to leave the abbey. He then started his own place called the Benediktushof. This was a special center where people from different religions could come together to meditate and learn about awareness. He lived and taught there.
In 2007, he created a foundation called West-Östliche Weisheit, which means "West-East Wisdom." This foundation helps share the spiritual ideas taught at the Benediktushof. Willigis Jäger passed away on March 20, 2020, in Holzkirchen.
Books by Willigis Jäger
Willigis Jäger wrote many books, and some of them were translated into English. These books share his ideas about contemplation and finding meaning in life.
Some of his books include:
- Contemplation: A Christian Path (published in 1994)
- Search for the Meaning of Life: Essays and Reflections on the Mystical Experience (published in 2003)
