Zen Studies Society

NYZ: Morning Zazen
2025-11-20 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-11-24 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-11-25 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-11-26 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-01 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-02 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-03 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
2025-11-20 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-11-24 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-11-25 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-11-26 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-01 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-02 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-12-03 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
2025-11-20 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.

NYZ: Autumn Sutra Collective
2025-11-21 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-11-28 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.

Online: Sunday Morning Service and Zazen
2025-11-23 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: Mandala Day Service, Zazen and Informal Lunch
2025-11-23 10:00 - 13:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Mandala Day commemorates the spiritual exchange between Soen Nakagawa Roshi and Nyogen Senzaki who shared Dharma greetings to each other across the Pacific on the 21st of each month through chanting, zazen, and bows. Celebrated simultaneously at Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, this ceremony honors those in our lineage and all related teachers known and unknown who have helped to further the Buddha-Dharma.
Our monthly Mandala Day service begins promptly at 10 a.m. The service is followed by kinhin (walking meditation), zazen, nittensoji (temple cleaning), and an informal lunch. Food offerings are welcome, but not required. Doors open at 9:30am.
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 ZSS. Registration is not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism
2025-11-23 15:00 - 17:00 | 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: Zazen and Tai Chi
2025-11-25 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: The Pali Canon - TL;DR
2025-11-25 20:00 - 20:45 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
A 5-week survey course from November 11th to December 16th, 2025
The Pali Canon is the oldest and most foundational collection of Buddhist scriptures, and our closest record of the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. Yet it is vast, spanning dozens of volumes and thousands of pages, depending on the translation. Some texts remain untranslated into English even today.
In many American Zen sanghas, the Pali Canon is not often emphasized, as the focus tends to be on the teachings of later Zen ancestors. As a result, many Zen students in the West are relatively unfamiliar with its content and structure.
This five-week survey course offers a basic introduction to the Pali Canon and an overview of several of its central teachings. You may find that its style, tone, and approach offer a rich and complementary perspective to your existing Zen practice.
The fee for this online course is $50 for nonmembers and $40 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members, register by purchasing a series pass below. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. Classes will be held on Zoom and facilitated by Giun Sensei. A meeting link will be shared in advance, and recordings will be made available to all participants after each session.
The schedule will be as follows:

Tuesday, November 11th, 8 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Tuesday, November 18th, 8 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Tuesday, November 25th, 8 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Tuesday, December 2nd, NO CLASS (Rohatsu)
Tuesday, December 9th, 8 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.
Tuesday, December 16th, 8 p.m. – 8:45 p.m.

Online: Caring for the Earth and Buddhist Practice
2025-11-26 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
2025-11-26 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: Temple Closed
2025-11-27, 2025-11-29, 2025-11-30 | 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.

DBZ: Rohatsu Sesshin // Registration is Closed
2025-11-30 16:00 - 2025-12-08 14:00 | Dai Bosatsu Zendo, 223 Beecher Lake Road, Livingston Manor, NY, 12758
Registration is now closed. Sign up for the ZSS Newsletter to receive information on upcoming events.

Rohatsu is held each year at Zen Buddhist temples and monasteries throughout the world. This eight-day intensive sesshin commemorates the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha who vowed not to rise from beneath the Bodhi tree until he achieved true awakening. We sit Rohatsu motivated by his dedication, realizing this is unsurpassable opportunity for deep practice.
Led by Chigan Roshi, Rohatsu begins the evening of November 30 and concludes on the morning of December 8 with Jodo-E (Buddha’s Enlightenment Ceremony). Each day, scheduled sittings extend further and further into the night. Each evening we will hear Hakuin Zenji’s “Rohatsu Exhortations.” Chigan Roshi and Shinge Roshi will give teisho and offer dokusan. For more details and the typical sesshin schedule, please visit the Dai Bosatsu Zendo Sesshin page.
The fee for this sesshin is $625 for nonmembers and $550 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. If this will be your first sesshin, or you have any questions, please email office@daibosatsu.org before registering. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
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.

NYZ: Rohatsu Week Zazen
2025-12-01 19:00 - 22:00, 2025-12-02 19:00 - 22:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Rohatsu, a Japanese word meaning “the eighth day of the last month of the year,” is held each year in Zen monasteries around the world to commemorate the enlightenment of Shakyamuni Buddha. During this eight-day period, we manifest the Buddha’s determination as he sat beneath the Bodhi tree, vowing not to rise until he achieved true awakening. Every student contributes to and takes strength from the powerful energy and determination of all.
At New York Zendo, we will sit from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. each night from December 1st through December 7th. Yaza, voluntary sitting after the formal close of the evening, is encouraged. We will sit all night on December 7th, and Rohatsu will end with the chanting of the Jodo-E ceremony on the morning of the 8th.
If you are not able to attend in person, we will be also offering this event online:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 824 2548 5117
Passcode: [REDACTED]
Donations welcome, please consider becoming a Supporting Member of Zen Studies Society (ZSS). ZSS Health Protocols apply.
