Niklaus Brantschen (born in 1937) is a Jesuit, Zen master, co-founder of the Lassalle-Institut in Bad Schönbrunn, a fasting instructor and author of numerous books, including on the topic of fasting. He entered the Jesuit Order at 22 years of age. He studied theology in Fourvière (France) and Tübingen as well as adult education in Munich (both Germany). He became interested in meditation and interreligious dialogue early on. He took part in meditation courses with Karlfried Graf Dürckheim and spent time from 1976 onwards studying Zen with Hugo Makibi Enomiya-Lassalle and Yamada Kôun Roshi in Kamakura (Japan). He was granted a teaching license by Yamada Kôun Roshi in 1988, and confirmed a Zen master by Glassman Roshi in 1999. Brantschen recognises the practice of Zen Buddhism as an enlightening, never-ending spiritual path between the East and West that can help break down barriers between religions, nations and races – with the aim of becoming one humanity.
