Our local sangha has been through various permutations: it was formed by Sandra Krivine and Dheeresh back in the noughties, as a follow-up group for people who had graduated from one of the eight week mindfulness courses, either one run by Sandra and Dheeresh or elsewhere. We used to have a guided meditation, like a bodyscan, in the first half, and then perhaps a reading of some sort, and then a silent sitting in the second half. It was known in those days as the Undercover Dharma (UCD) group.
Gradually the influence shifted towards Zen, culminating in a visit by Patrick Kundo Eastman, who was a sensei (teacher) and founder of the Wild Goose Zen Sangha (WGZS). Afterwards we had a discussion, and the majority of people opted to become a fully-fledged Zen group and affiliated to the WGZS. We then changed to doing two sits, with a reading in between, and also incorporated some chanting, particularly the Heart Sutra. Once a month we had a Big Mind1 session instead, led by Dheeresh.
During Covid, we could only operate online, and some people joined us to sit who did not live in the vicinity. We then changed our name to Boundless Hove Zen Sangha, so that it was understood that you didn't have to live in the area to be a part of the group.
As there were differences in the group as to the Big Mind process, we then separated this out, so that Big Mind sessions could be arranged on a different day, and the regular weekly evening practices would be 'pure' Zen.
Jeremy Ryokan Sensei, the Zen teacher to whom Dheeresh switched (from Kundo Roshi), left the Wild Goose Zen Sangha and joined Stonewater Zen Sangha. After a couple of years, Dheeresh decided to follow him, and so the yet again re-named Boundless Zen Brighton & Hove is now affiliated to and part of Stonewater.
1. This is a technique developed by Dennis Genpo Merzel, Roshi. Dheeresh studied it with him in 2006 in Salt Lake City.