NYZ: "Dust to Light" Watch Party & Tea Ceremony
2025-12-20 14:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Join us for an afternoon release party of Dust to Light, a short documentary made by Sangha member Enkai Erika Houle. Dust to Light is about what is really going on under the surface when we are cleaning. The film listens as four Zen practitioners reflect on the transformative process of cleaning when it is approached as a meditation rather than burdensome chore.
The film been screened in festivals around the world and will soon be available to the public. This event is the official release party and aligns with the date of the annual cleaning ceremony at Higashi Hongan-ji, the Pureland temple Miki Nakura Sensei is connected to. Enkai filmed this event for the upcoming piece. Locally, this day is also important as the NYC Department of Sanitation was founded on December 20th, 1881.
Inspired by audiences’ responses to the film, Enkai is working on a longer piece about cleaning. A sneak peek will be shown at the conclusion of the screening.
For those who cannot attend in person, an option to join the screening and Q&A via Zoom will be available.
The schedule will be as follows:
1:45 p.m. | Doors Open
2:00 p.m. | Tea Ceremony
3:00 p.m. | Film Screening + Q&A (also available online)
Tickets are $15, please register by purchasing a ticket below. The fee will cover any event expenses with the remainder going to support The Zen Studies Society. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, please email office@newyorkzendo.org or call 212-861-3333 if you need financial support. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
This event is made possible with support from Tea Arts & Culture.

NYZ: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism
2025-12-21 14:00 - 16:00, 2026-01-04 14:00 - 16:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Join us for seiza meditation at New York Zendo Shobo-ji, led by Miki Nakura. Seiza (quiet sitting) was established in Japan more than 110 years ago by Okada Torajiro Sensei. The sitting form is the traditional Japanese kneeling position, but seiza can also be practiced sitting in a chair.
In seiza, we learn how to find the most physically balanced posture, in accordance with gravity, following correct breathing and allowing the full flow of energy into the lower belly (also known as the hara or tan t’ien region). Through this practice we can naturally experience total serenity of the body-mind. D.T. Suzuki encouraged American Zen students, including Ruth Fuller Sasaki, to practice seiza before and during their zazen training.
A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please do not wear scented cosmetics, and set any electronic device to silent mode. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
About the instructor: Miki Nakura, a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist minister based in New York, started practicing seiza 30 years ago under the guidance of his teachers in Japan. He has been devoting himself to sharing seiza with students since 2004.
Everyone is welcome! Note that this event is offered in-person only. Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Temple Closed
2025-12-22, 2025-12-23, 2025-12-24, 2025-12-25, 2026-01-01 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
New York Zendo Shobo-ji is closed today. Please check the calendar for schedule modifications.

NYZ: Open AA 11th Step Meeting
2025-12-27 11:00 - 12:45, 2026-01-03 11:00 - 12:45 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
We welcome you to “Acceptance,” an open AA 11th Step meditation meeting at New York Zendo.
Doors open at 10:30 a.m. Meditation begins promptly at 11 a.m. and lasts 30 minutes. If this is your first time attending this meeting, please arrive early to receive a short orientation. Both cushions and chairs are provided.
Please arrive on time, there will be no entry during the meditation period to avoid disruptions. Doors re-open at 11:30 a.m., and an open AA meeting begins at 11:45 a.m. on the second floor.
Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

Online: Sunday Morning Service and Zazen
2025-12-28 10:00 - 12:00, 2026-01-04 10:00 - 12:00 | Online
Join us online for Sunday Morning Service and zazen. Choka (morning service) will begin at 10 a.m., followed by kinhin (walking meditation), and zazen. A Dharma Talk will be given on the first Sunday of each month.
A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please set any electronic device to silent mode and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing.
The Zoom meeting room will open at approximately 9:30am.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 2548 5117
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Registration is not required.

NYZ: Sunday Morning Service and Zazen
2025-12-28 10:00 - 13:00, 2026-01-04 10:00 - 13:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
On Sundays, we hold choka (morning service) at 10 a.m., followed by kinhin (walking meditation) and zazen. A Dharma Talk will be given on the first Sunday of each month. After zazen, there will be 30 minutes of nittensoji (temple cleaning), followed by tea and informal discussion. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please do not wear scented cosmetics, and set any electronic device to silent mode. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Refer to Zendo Etiquette for more details.
Newcomers to the temple are kindly requested to attend one Introduction to Zen Meditation class, held on Thursday evenings, before joining the community for other practice events.
A $10 donation (payable online) is requested from non-members. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of the Zen Studies Society. Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
This event is also offered online.

NYZ: Morning Zazen
2025-12-29 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-30 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-31 06:45 - 07:45, 2026-01-05 06:45 - 07:45, 2026-01-06 06:45 - 07:45, 2026-01-07 06:45 - 07:45 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
New York Zendo is open for morning zazen Monday through Thursday from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. Doors open at 6:30 a.m.
A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please do not wear scented cosmetics, and set any electronic device to silent mode. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Refer to Zendo Etiquette for more details.
Newcomers to the temple are kindly requested to attend one Introduction to Zen Meditation class, held on Thursday evenings, before joining the community for other practice events.
A $10 donation (payable online) is requested from non-members. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of the Zen Studies Society. Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
This event is also offered online.

Online: Morning Zazen
2025-12-29 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-30 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-31 06:45 - 07:45, 2026-01-05 06:45 - 07:45, 2026-01-06 06:45 - 07:45, 2026-01-07 06:45 - 07:45 | Online
Join us online for zazen Monday through Thursday from 6:45 to 7:45 a.m. The Zoom meeting room will open at approximately 6:30 a.m. Short morning service begins at 6:45 a.m. Zazen begins at 7 a.m. and continues until 7:40 a.m.

We will use our sutra book. A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please set any electronic device to silent mode and wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Feel free to come and go at whatever time your schedule allows.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 2548 5117
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Registration is not required.

NYZ: Zazen and Tai Chi
2025-12-30 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-01-06 19:00 - 21:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
On Tuesday evenings, New York Zendo is open for zazen and tai chi from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 pm. This program includes 40 minutes of zazen followed by a tai chi class on the second floor.
A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please do not wear scented cosmetics, and set any electronic device to silent mode. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Refer to Zendo Etiquette for more details.
Newcomers to the temple are kindly requested to attend one Introduction to Zen Meditation class, held on Thursday evenings, before joining the community for other practice events.
A $10 donation (payable online) is requested from non-members. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of the Zen Studies Society. Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: New Year's Eve Celebration
2025-12-31 20:15 - 2026-01-01 01:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Ring in the New Year in person with us at New York Zendo!
We will welcome 2026 with zazen, a Dharma talk, and joyous chanting of Kanzeon as we strike the daikei (large gong) 108 times. After chanting, we will gather in the Dharma Hall for a celebratory meal.
Doors open initially at 7:45 p.m. For those interested in closing out 2025 with zazen, there will be lineage chanting and one period of zazen from 8:15 – 9 p.m. This sitting period is intended for participants who have a regular sitting practice.
Doors will reopen at 9 p.m. to welcome all other participants. The evening’s program will resume at 9:30 p.m.
The fee is $30 for Zen Studies Society Supporting Members and $40 for non-members. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of ZSS. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; contact office@newyorkzendo.org for support. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Evening Zazen
2026-01-05 19:00 - 21:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
On Monday and Wednesday evenings, New York Zendo is open for zazen from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 pm.
A quiet atmosphere with minimal distractions is essential to our practice. Please do not wear scented cosmetics, and set any electronic device to silent mode. Wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. Refer to Zendo Etiquette for more details.
Newcomers to the temple are kindly requested to attend one Introduction to Zen Meditation class, held on Thursday evenings, before joining the community for other practice events.
A $10 donation (payable online) is requested from non-members. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of the Zen Studies Society. Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
