What Is Zen?
What is Zen? It’s both something we are—our true nature expressing itself moment by moment—and something we do—a disciplined practice through which we can realize the joy of being. It is not a belief system to which one converts. There is no dogma or doctrine. Zen is the direct experience of what we might call ultimate reality, or the absolute, yet it is not separate from the ordinary, the relative. This direct experience is our birthright. The practice of zazen—meditation—is a way of realizing the non-dualistic, vibrant, subtle, and interconnected nature of all life. Read More
How To Practice
Zen is a path that must be studied, practiced, and actualized. The core of Zen is zazen, which requires motivation, patience, discipline, and dedication, and is cultivated through repeated, consistent practice.
Formal Zen practice begins with two basic activities: we sit, and we breathe, with awareness. From that basic engagement, we extend the activity to include walking, chanting, eating, working—every aspect of daily life. Read More
Our Teachers
Chigan-kutsu Kyo-On Dokuro R. Jaeckel, our abbot, began formal Zen practice in 1982 in Austria with Genro Seiun Osho, a disciple of Denkyo-shitsu Kyozan Joshu Roshi. He was ordained a Rinzai Zen monk by Joshu Roshi in 1989 at Mt. Baldy Zen Center in California and a Zen teacher, Osho, in 2004. His affiliation with the Zen Studies Society began in 2012 when Joshu Roshi retired from teaching. He received Dharma Transmission in 2017 from Shinge Roshi and underwent an Entrustment ceremony in 2020, becoming Chigan Roshi. On November 24, 2023, he was installed as the third abbot of the Zen Studies Society by Shinge-shitsu Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi. Read More
Talks and Videos
Here are videos and podcasts of our teachers and guests talks. Take a moment for yourself and listen. Click here.
Reading List
There are many, many great books on the subject of Buddha’s teachings, so we have compiled a list you may find helpful. Read More
Our Books
We have published several books that are not available anywhere else. Read More
Sutra Book
For a pdf of the Zen Studies Society daily sutras, click here.
