Zen Studies Society

NYZ: Morning Zazen
2025-09-18 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-22 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-23 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-24 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-25 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-29 06:45 - 07:45 (America/New_York) | 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
2025-09-18 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-22 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-23 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-24 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-25 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: Introduction to Zen Meditation
2025-09-18 18:45 - 21:00, 2025-09-25 18:45 - 21:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
If you are new to Rinzai Zen Buddhism, New York Zendo Shobo-ji offers city dwellers the opportunity to experience traditional Zen practice and find an oasis of deep stillness in the heart of Manhattan.
Every Thursday evening, the Introduction to Zen Meditation class covers the basics of zazen (seated meditation): posture, breathing, and concentration. Beginners will also learn the form used at New York Zendo Shobo-ji including bowing, chanting, and kinhin (walking meditation). Doors open at 6:15 p.m. and instruction begins promptly at 6:45 p.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. No prior experience is necessary. This class is a pre-requisite for attending zazen at New York Zendo.
The fee for this class is $10, please register here. If you have questions, please email office@newyorkzendo.org or call 212-861-3333 before registering. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

You are also welcome to join our online Introduction to Zen Meditation.

DBZ: Intro to Zen Weekend | WAITING LIST ONLY
2025-09-19 16:00 - 2025-09-21 14:00 | Dai Bosatsu Zendo, 223 Beecher Lake Road, Livingston Manor, NY, 12758
Registration is now closed. Please email office@daibosatsu.org to be placed on the waiting list. Sign up for the ZSS Newsletter to receive information on upcoming events.

Join us for a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in Rinzai Zen Buddhist practice at Dai Bosatsu Zendo, our monastery deep in the Catskill Mountains. Led by teachers and senior students from the Zen Studies Society, Introduction to Zen is an intensive weekend focused on the three essentials of Zen Buddhist practice — zazen (seated meditation with attention to posture and breath), chanting, and samu (work practice).
You will also learn how to use jihatsu (traditional nesting bowls) and to eat attentively in silence. The weekend will include a Dharma talk and a question-and-answer period, concluding with an informal lunch and group discussion on Sunday. No prior experience necessary.
The fee is $250 for nonmembers and $225 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Note that the Member price is for Members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member of ZSS. If you have any questions, please email office@daibosatsu.org before registering.
If you are able to support students in financial difficulty, please consider making an additional donation. If you are experiencing financial difficulty, you may apply for a reduced rate here. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Autumn Sutra Collective
2025-09-19 18:30 - 20:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Feeling anxious for no reason, or worn out by the usual happy hour scene? Try something different.
Sutra copying is a traditional Buddhist practice that generates merit for yourself and for all beings. You don’t need to be a Buddhist or a skilled calligrapher to take part.
Moving slowly, stroke by stroke through the Buddha’s words, this practice quiets the mind and anchors you in the present moment.
Join us at New York Zendo Shobo-ji, in the peaceful presence of the Great Buddha statue, and connect with like-hearted practitioners. If you would like to share your favorite dessert or beverages with other practitioners, feel free to bring them.
The schedule for this Sutra Collective series will be as follows:

Friday, September 19th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday, October 31st, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday, November 7th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday, November 14th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday, November 21st, 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Friday, November 28th, 6:30pm – 8:30pm

There is no fee for this class, all are welcome! ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Open AA 11th Step Meeting
2025-09-20 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
2025-09-21 10:00 - 12:00, 2025-09-28 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: Dharma Talk with Hokuto Osho
2025-09-21 10:00 - 13:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
This Sunday, please join us for zazen and a Dharma Talk given by Hokuto Osho, senior teacher at the Zen Studies Society. After the second period of zazen, there will be 30 minutes of nittensoji (temple cleaning) followed by informal lunch. Doors open at 9:30 a.m.
Hokuto Daniel Diffin Osho has been associated with Zen Studies Society since 1978. He was ordained in 1980, and became a student of Shinge Roshi in 2010. Hokuto Osho was named a Dharma teacher of Zen Studies Society in 2015 and received inka shomei, or Dharma transmission, in 2022. A medical doctor specializing in vascular and interventional radiology, Hokuto Osho has a background in Christian contemplative thought, and a lifelong interest in poetics.
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: Noh Chanting Workshop Series
2025-09-21 14:00 - 15:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Experience the Voice of Noh: UTAI
A 5-part workshop series from August 24th to December 7th, 2025
Noh, the Japanese classical performing art established nearly 700 years ago, is understood today as an art form to watch, but it was originally intended to be experienced. Through Noh chanting (utai) and Noh dance (mai), participants engaged with the profound meaning behind the words, and cultivated harmony between mind and body.
This summer, the Noh Society invites beginners to participate in a 5-part workshop series where you will experience utai, the vocal expression of Noh, through breath, voice, and movement.
The first session will explore Takasago, a masterpiece of Noh about pine trees that celebrates harmony, peace, and eternity. Participants will learn to ground their bodies, breathe deeply from the core, awaken the senses, and explore the unique vocal power of utai.
The second session, Center and Go Beyond, we will continue to explore we’ll explore Takasago, and participants will learn to center their body, and experience fundamental elements of Noh movement, including the formal stance (kamae), sliding steps (suriashi), and stylized dance movements (kata).
In the third session we’ll continue to explore Takasago in addition to Hagoromo, a graceful tale of a celestial maiden. The session will also include Yuya, a Noh dance through which participants can experience centering the body in motion.
In the fourth session, Put Your Heart into Words, we’ll continue to explore Takasago and Hagoromo while diving deeper into the fundamental elements of Noh movement, stylized dance movements (kata), and the Noh dance, Yuya.
In the fifth and final session, Through Noh, A Gaze Within, participants will mindfully practice the movements of Noh dance from the Takasago, and reflect upon the past year.
The series will be held at New York Zendo, a perfect setting to reconnect with yourself, clear your mind, and awaken your awareness through the power of voice. Expect a meditative, energizing experience that engages your whole body and will enable you to step into fall with renewed focus and fresh energy.
About the instructor: Mayo Miwa (三輪万葉) is a New York City-based Noh performer and instructor. She earned her Noh major from Tokyo University of the Arts and trained at the Kanze School. As Vice President of the Noh Society, she actively facilitates educational programs with Japanese actors and teaches at various US institutions. She is dedicated to sharing Noh’s timeless art, exploring how it can inspire the mind and body, and how it may continue to evolve in today’s world.
The fee for one session is $20. Please register using this link. Instruction will be in Japanese & English. No prior experience is necessary.

Session One | Sunday, August 24th, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Session Two | Sunday, September 21st, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Session Three | Sunday, October 12th, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Session Four | Saturday, November 15th 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Session Five | Sunday, December 7th, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

*Please note that the November session has been moved from the 2nd to the 15th

NYZ: The Space Between - An Ikebana Workshop
2025-09-21 15:30 - 17:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
In ikebana, as in Zen, space is not empty, it’s alive and essential. This workshop invites participants to slow down and listen to the quiet intervals between flowers, branches, and moments. In this class, we’ll explore how ikebana arrangements emerge not just from form, but from the space that holds it. The workshop will begin with a live demonstration, and then participants will create their own arrangement with guidance and feedback.
About the Instructor: Kristina Bajunaishvili has studied Sogetsu ikebana since 2015. She approaches ikebana as her primary creative practice, a way to explore space, form, and feeling through flowers and unexpected materials.
The fee for this in-person workshop is $70 for nonmembers and $55 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Register early as the maximum number of participants is 12. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. No prior ikebana experience is necessary. Materials will be provided (all plants locally grown and sourced). ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Zazen and Dokusan
2025-09-22 19:00 - 21:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
On most Monday evenings, Hokuto Osho offers online dokusan to students who participate in the in-person zazen session. The format will follow the form of in-person dokusan as closely as possible. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., formal activities begin promptly at 7 p.m. There will be han, lineage chanting, and two periods of zazen with dokusan.
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: Zazen and Tai Chi
2025-09-23 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.

Online: Introduction to Zen Meditation
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Join us on Zoom every Wednesday evening for Introduction to Zen Meditation. We begin with instruction on meditation posture and technique, followed by a brief period of guided meditation and an opportunity for questions.
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. Anyone who attends this introduction is then welcome to join us at New York Zendo for other practice events.
Please register by sending an email to lauren@laurenann.net by the Friday before the class you would like to attend.
You are also welcome to join our in-person Introduction to Zen Meditation at New York Zendo on Thursday evenings. ZSS Health Protocols apply for this in-person event.

Online: Caring for the Earth and Buddhist Practice
2025-09-24 19:00 - 20:30 | Online
Fourth Wednesday of each Month | 7:00 – 8:30 pm EST
Facilitated by Michael Fayne and Morgan Perkins
On the fourth Wednesday of each month, we delve into Buddhist-based strategies and practices for caring for the earth. Together, we explore ways to authentically integrate our commitment to action in alignment with our Buddhist principles, providing mutual support and encouragement along the way.
Learn more about Engaged Buddhism at the Zen Studies Society.
SIGN UP

NYZ: Evening Zazen
2025-09-24 19:00 - 21:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
On 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.

NYZ: Eight Basic Strokes - Calligraphy & Tea Workshop Series
2025-09-26 18:30 - 20:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Fridays | September 26th – October 17th, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
自
Self – What is Self?
Join Ines Sun at New York Zendo for a four-week exploration of the foundation of Chinese calligraphy, the eight basic strokes. The foundation of the Eight Strokes is based on how Madam Wei (Weifuren, 272–349 AD) taught the 7-year old Wang Xizhi (303–361 AD), a young boy who later became the most renowned calligrapher in Chinese history. His style continues to be emulated to this day.
Each session begins with a welcome tea in the garden and a reading of the Daodejing (Tao Te Ching), and is followed by time for focused practice, allowing students to deepen their understanding through direct experience. Come join us as we build community, making friends with ourselves and others through this meditative practice. No prior experience is necessary, all are welcome to these sweet and special Friday nights!
Ines Sun began studying calligraphy as a child and later deepened her practice through painting. She weaves together her training in tea ceremony and calligraphy in her installation Heaven Earth Tea Hut (天地茶屋), an intimate, silent performance where she invites a participant to engage in calligraphy and tea ceremony together.
The schedule will be as follows:

Friday, September 26th
Friday, October 3rd
Friday, October 10th
Friday, October 17th

To keep the rhythm going, there will also be sutra copying in October and November.
The fee for this course is $40 for a single class or $150 for the full 4-week series. All materials provided. To make a payment and register, please use Venmo: Ines Sun @pencilnyc or Zelle: inesthsun@gmail.com. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

DBZ: Aiho Yasuko Shimano Burial Service
2025-09-27 11:00 - 14:30 | Dai Bosatsu Zendo, 223 Beecher Lake Road, Livingston Manor, NY, 12758
Aiho Yasuko Shimano
March 5, 1935 – July 7, 2025
Please join us at Dai Bosatsu Zendo for a memorial service and the interment of Aiho Yasuko Shimano.
Aiho-san was the former Director of New York Zendo Shobo-ji and the spouse of Eido Shimano Roshi. With this memorial service and interment, Aiho-san’s ashes are returning to Dai Bosatsu Zendo and will be placed next to her late husband in the Shimano Family plot in Sangha Meadow.
Following the service, an informal vegetarian sarei-style lunch will be offered in the dining room. There will be an opportunity to meet with Chigan Roshi after the event concludes.
All are welcome, please register by purchasing a ticket below. A donation of $20 to cover the cost of lunch is kindly requested. Additional donations are always welcome, every offering is greatly appreciated. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Sunday Morning Service and Zazen
2025-09-28 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: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism
2025-09-28 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.
