Fausto Taiten Guareschi

Fausto Taiten Guareschi was born in Fidenza (Parma) in 1949. From a young age, he practised martial arts, particularly jūdō, a discipline in which he was a four-time Italian champion. In 1973, he founded the Kyu Shin Dō Kai Higher School of Martial Arts, of which he is now honorary president.
In the late 1960s, he was introduced to Zen by Taisen Deshimaru, a master who played a key role in spreading Zen throughout Europe. In 1975, he received monastic ordination from him. In 1982, he was recognised as a Dharma heir by Narita Shūyū Rōshi, from whom he received Dharma transmission in 1983. He also helped found the Italian Buddhist Union, of which he was president from 1990 to 1993.

In 1984, he founded the Sōtō Zen monastery Shōbōzan Fudenji in Bargone, Salsomaggiore Terme, a place of practice, training and dialogue between spiritual traditions and contemporary culture. He served as its abbot from 2004 to 2019 and is now abbot emeritus. Over the years, Fudenji has become a centre of reference for the practice of Zen and for engagement with philosophy, theology, science and the various expressions of Western culture.

His work stems from the convergence of spiritual experience, martial arts and reflection on the relationship between humanity, nature and reality. He is the author of books and essays devoted to Zen, the dialogue between East and West, and the significance of spiritual practice in contemporary life. Among his most recent works are Fatti di fuoco (2015) and Fatti d’acqua (2021).

He continues to devote himself to teaching, training and interreligious and intercultural dialogue, in the belief that spiritual practice can contribute to a deeper understanding of humanity and reality.