Formerly the Zen Association of Europe authorised by ministerial decision 30 April 1970 STATUTES Article 1 Under the name

Association Zen Internationale there is founded among the adherents to the present statutes an association in conformity with the Law of 1 July 1901 and with the Decree of 16 August 1901. Article 2: Purpose of the association The purpose of the association is as follows: to perpetuate the practice of awakenening according to the tradition of Soto Zen Buddhism as founded by Buddha Shakyamuni, Bodhidharma, Dogen Zenji, and Keizan Zenji and planted in Europe by Master Taisen Deshimaru; more precisely, to study the philosophy of zen and to practice zen meditation. to organise the practise of Soto Zen and of any and all artistic, culyural, humanitarian, or educational activities in connection with that practice and which contribute to the evolution and the well-being of human beings; to contribute, particularly through dialogue and reflection with other traditions, to the deepening of authentic values for modern civilisation in the light of the universal values of Buddhism and their practical application;

to promote true liberty of the mind and peace among all people with no discrimination based on origins, gender, nationality, belief, or religion. In order to accomplish these purposes the association may acquire, sell, hold, or manage any property, be it movable or immovable, that may be necessary. It is particumarly charged with the material management and spiritual leadership of the La Gendreonnire temple. The association may carry out any operation directly or indirectly related to its purpose. Article 3: Address and Duration of the Association The address of the association is set at 175 rue de Tolbiac, 75013 Paris. It may be changed upon a simmple decision of the Administrative Council. The association is founded for an unlimited duration. Article 4: Membership The association brings together: active members who participate fully in the activities of the association, approve its purposes, and who invest themselves in the practice of Soto Zen. They pay regular annual dues. They have a vote at the General Assembly. A candidate becomes an active member only after approval by the Bureau. That approval is considered acquired if the Bureau does not refuse it within two months following a candidates application. The Bureau is authorised to accept or refuse candidates at its own discretion.

Sympathising members who are interested in the associations purposes and who take part in some of its activities. They pay annual dues. They do not have a vote at the general assemblies. Supporting members: who support the association financially by contributing at least 100 euros annually. The title of Honorary member may be accorded by the administrative council to any person or organisation who renders, or who has rendered, particular service to the association. Honorary members cannot be elected to the administrative council and have no vote at general assemblies. They are not required to pay dues.

Article 5: Temples, Centres, Dojos, and Groups Members of the AZI who come together in order to practise, whether among themselves or with persons not belonging to the AZI, may request that their group or place of practice be recognised by the AZI. These places of practice contribute to the accomplisment of the associations purposes and receive the associations support. The rules concerning relations between them are spelled out in the by-laws. Article 6: Leadership In order to carry out its purposes the association creates an Administrative Council (AC) elected by the General Assembly, as well as a Spiritual Council (SC). 1, The Administrative Council is composed of members elected by the General Assembly. It administers the association, organises its activities, and elects a Bureau which carries out the day to day administration. It takes into account the recommendations of the Spiritual Council. 2, The Spiritual Council sees to it that the associations activities are in accordance with its purposes. Members of the SC cannot be, at the same time, members of the AC. No member of either council may receive payment for the functions entrusted to him/her. Article 7: The Associations Resources The association receives its resources from: 1, membership dues as defined by the CA; 2, the activities that it organises; 3, public subsidies from both national and local levels; 4, interest and revenue from property and investments belonging to the association; 5, any and all resources not forbidden by law. Excess income is carefully managed. Accounting is kept according to the law in force. Article 8: Loss of Membership Membership in the association is lost through:

a) resignation; b) death; c) in case of non-payment of dues within thirty days of a second call for dues; d) exclusion pronounced by the AC for grave and serious reasons and only after having invited the member concerned to come before the AC in order to present his/her explanations concerning the reproaches made to him/her. Article 9: The Administrative Council The AC is composed of between twenty and thirty members. The number of administrators is defined by the AC at each partial election. Members are elected fro three years. The partial election of members of the AC takes place each year at the general assembly. Exceptionally, for the first two years the outgoing one third of the members will be chosen through the drawing of lots. Outgoing members may be re-elected. The AC meets at least twice every year. Members of the AC are notified of a meeting at least one week before that meeting by the president, and upon his own initiative or at the written request of at least one third of its members. The General Secretary send the order of business along with the notification. An attestation of presence must be signed at every meeting. A record of minutes, drawn up by the General Secretary, is kept on file. It is possible to invite persons not members of the AC to a meeting, but they shall not have a vote. The AC sets out the broad lines of the Associations action in accordance with the SC. It votes the budget, takes general administrative decisions, decides upon the principal activities organised by the association in furtherance of its purposes, maintains a living tie to the practice groups who identify with the association, and publishes annual accounts. It takes all decisions not reserved to the general assembly. Decisions by the AC are taken by a two thirds majority of its members either present or represented by proxy.A member of the AC may give his/her vote by proxy to another member. No member may hold more than three proxies in all. A quorum is defined as the presence of two thirds of the members either present or represented by proxy. Members of the AC are required to attend or to be represented by proxy at all meetings of the AC. After three unexcused absences a member will be considered to have resigned. Members of the AC must enjoy full possession of their civil rights. The AC may also meet remotely, at a distance, through the use of any appropriate means (particulary through vidioconference, conference calls, etc). Notification of meetings must include the modality of the meeting. The president may decide to proceed to a written consultation. In such a case the members of the AC are individually consulted, at the presidents initiative, using any written form of communication including electronic messages and faxing. The opinions and vote of the members consulted must then also be expressed in

writing in the same conditions. Faxes, electronic messages, or letters by which members of the AC have expressed themselves are then filed with the report on the written consultation. Article 10: The Bureau The AC, through a vote by secret ballot, chooses among its members a bureau composed of one president, several vice-presidents, one general secretary and his/her assistants, one treasurer and his/her assistants, and delegates. The Bureau is elected for one year. The election takes place every year at the first meeting of the AC following the annual general assembly. The Bureau meets as often as necessary. The Bureau administers the day to day affairs of the association and organises its activities within the framework decided upon by the AC. Its decisions are taken upon a simple majority vote of the members present or represented by proxy. The Bureau may also meet remotely, at a distance, through the use of any appropriate means (particulary through vidioconference, conference calls, etc). Notification of meetings must include the modality of the meeting. The president may decide to proceed to a written consultation. In such a case the members of the Bureau are individually consulted, at the presidents initiative, using any written form of communication including electronic messages and faxing. The opinions and vote of the members consulted must then also be expressed in writing in the same conditions. Faxes, electronic messages, or letters by which members of the Bureau have expressed themselves are then filed with the report on the written consultation. Article 11: The Spiritual Council The SC is composed of between 12 and 20 members of the association. Members of the SC are designated by co-optation. The first members of the SC are those kyoshi who are members of the AZI, disciples of Master Deshimaru, on the date these statutues go into effect. This first circle of eight validates its members and co-opts other members from among the teachers of the association. They thus form the first SC. The co-optations are decided by a majority of 80% in a vote by secret ballot. Each year the members of the SC proceed to validate the former members and co-opt new members if necessary. The SC meets at least twice a year. At each meeting a chairman is designated as well as a secretary who takes minutes and gives a report of any decisions. The SC, in liaison with the AC, sees to it that the associations activities, particularly at the La Gendronnire temple and in the practice groups connected to it, are in accordance with the purposes of the association and cause no moral or material prejudice to the association. The SC names the abbot of La Gendronnire and designates the responsible persons and teachers there. Their functions are specified in the by-laws. The SC validates the list of practice groups of the association and approves their leaders. Its decisions are taken by an 80% majority of those present or represented by proxy. Article 12: The General Assembly

The ordinary general assembly, composed exclusively of members of the association, meets each year. The Bureau decides the order of business. Only active members have the vote. Any active member of the association may be represented by proxy by any other active member. The general assembly hears and approves of the report on the years activities, the moral and financial situation of the association, as well as the program of action. It approves of the accounts for the last fiscal year, and deliberates on all points of the order of business. Finally, it elects the members of the CA. The quorum required for a vote by the general assembly is one quarter of the members of the association either present or represented by proxy. If the quorum is not reached, a new general assembly is convoked with the same order of business for a date not less than six days later. That second general assembly may deliberate no matter how many members are present or represented by proxy. Fifteen days at least before the date set for the general assembly the general secretary shall notify the members of the association and send the order of business with the notification. The decisions of the General Assembly are taken by a simple majority vote of the members present or represented by proxy. Article 13: The Special General Assembly If circumstances so require, a Special General Assembly may be convened by the AC or upon the request of at least one third of the members of the association. These present statutes may be modified only by a Special General Assembly regularly convened for that purpose. Article 14: Dissolution The association may be dissolved only by a Special General Assembly convened for that purpose by the CA either upon its own initiative or upon the written request, to the president, of at least two thirds of the active members having the right to take part in the assemblies. Such a Special General Assembly may deliberate only if three quarters of the members are present or represented by proxy, and the dissolution of the associuation may be decided only by an 80% majority of the members present or represented by proxy. The Special General Assembly designates one or several persons charged with liquidation the associations property. The Special General Assembly gives the resulting positive sum to one or several establishments pursuing the same purposes. Article 15: The Bylaws The bylaws complete the statutes and must be approved both by the AC and the SC by a majority of 80%.