Zen Studies Society

NYZ: Generation Meditation with NY Insight
2023-04-10 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-05-08 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-06-12 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-07-10 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-08-14 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-09-11 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-10-09 19:00 - 20:45, 2023-11-13 19:00 - 20:45 (America/New_York) and 1 more date | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Sponsored by NY Insight, this community meets monthly to meditate, discuss Buddhist teachings, and provide mutual support in applying these practices to the specific challenges of the participants.
The gathering is participatory and casual.
Discussion may follow inquiries about the reading, meditation practice, and life off-the-cushion, viewed through dharma teachings.
We aspire to build a community that is authentic, relational, pragmatic and joyful. All are warmly welcome.
There is no required level of experience or familiarity with meditation or Buddhism. Meditation instruction is given.
The age range to attend this sangha is 18-35.
Space is limited, please RSVP here.
All proceeds will support this sangha’s teacher(s) and other NYI teacher support. Please contact registration@nyimc.org if you need assistance.
Suggested donation is $10 but whatever you offer is greatly appreciated. No one will be turned away for lack of funds.

NYZ: InsightOUT Refuge Sangha (NYI), special Pride edition
2023-06-26 18:30 - 20:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Sponsored by New York Insight.
Join Insight OUT Refuge and allies for an in-person collective expression of our Refuge. We’ll meditate together and share an open discussion of what it means to take Refuge this Pride season alongside daily assaults on our political rights and identities. This is a time to reach for community like never before.
Join us online via Zoom: https://bit.ly/nyiinsightout
Meeting ID: 845 0390 5943
Passcode: 123
Dial by your location: +1 646 558 8656 US (New York)
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbAkW4rpL2
Space for in-person attendance is limited. Please reserve your in-person seat by clicking here.
Please arrive 15-20 minutes early to ensure an orderly check-in.
Reserved seats will be released at 6:30 PM to our waitlist.
If we are sold out, please sign-up for the waiting list – there may be a gap before the Wait List opens.
If you are on the Wait List, please email registration@nyimc.org between 5:30-6 pm on the day to inquire if space opened up for you to join us.
Walk-Ins will be admitted if space is available on a first-come basis at the start of the program.
If you are having trouble completing your RSVP or donation, please CLICK HERE to open it in a new browser. All proceeds will support this sangha’s teacher(s) and other NYI teacher support. Please contact registration@nyimc.org if you need assistance.
Fee by donation: Suggested starting donation is $15 but whatever you offer is greatly appreciated and no one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

DBZ: Volunteer Days
2023-06-28 16:00 - 2023-06-30 14:00 | Dai Bosatsu Zendo, 223 Beecher Lake Road, Livingston Manor, NY, 12758
Volunteer Days at Dai Bosatsu Zendo
Join the monastery residents this spring for volunteer days at Dai Bosatsu!
Samu (work practice) is a traditional part of Zen monastery life. When the weather allows, we will be working outside. Participants also do nittensoji (temple cleaning), cooking, and other tasks. The schedule will include zazen (meditation), chanting and traditional monastery meals using three bowls and chopsticks. There will be an orientation for all first-time attendees.
Volunteer days are free. To sign up, please email the office. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
Looking forward to seeing you at DBZ this spring!

NYZ: Insight OUT Refuge: LGBTQI Sangha
2023-07-24 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-09-18 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-10-23 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-11-27 18:30 - 20:30, 2023-12-18 18:30 - 20:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Sponsored by New York Insight.
Come join us for meditation and discussion to meet and socialize with other LGBTQI practitioners at NYI.
Our community is open to students of all Buddhist traditions, as well as those who are in the beginning stages of exploring their meditation practice and have an interest in the Dharma. All those who identify as LGBTQI are welcome.
We gather to form a multicultural community in which we can support each other in our practice with a commitment toward social change.
To join the Online gathering on the 2nd Monday of each month, please scroll down for the Zoom link.
Space is limited for our In-Person Gatherings each month, and RSVP is required. Please click here to RSVP.
All proceeds will support this sangha’s teacher(s) and other NYI teacher support. Please contact registration@nyimc.org if you need assistance.
Fee by donation: Suggested starting donation is $15 but whatever you offer is greatly appreciated and no one is ever turned away for lack of funds.

NYZ: Temple Committee Meeting
2023-07-30 14:00 - 16:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
The Shoboji Temple Committee will meet this afternoon in the Dharma Hall.
For this particular meeting, we welcome sangha members who are not formally part of the Committee.

Online: Zen Poetics: Poetry in Zen, Zen in Poetry - Registration is closed
2023-10-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Online
Eight-week course starting Sunday, Oct. 15
The interplay of poetry and Zen is inevitable: Poetry is a way of expressing the inexpressible; Zen is a way of exploring the inconceivable. In this eight-week online course, Hokuto Daniel Diffin Osho will explore the ways in which poetry and the Zen sensibility nourish and inform one another.
Topics will include the nature of poetry — why it predates written language and why it has so many forms and function; the challenges and rewards of poetry in translation; the use of poetry in religious traditions, especially in Buddhist sutras, gathas, and texts such as “Faith in Mind”; poetry and anti-poetry in koans; the use of “capping phrases” (jakugo) in koan study; traditional Zen-influenced poetic forms such as haiku and tanka, as well as the influence of Zen on Western poetry, especially modern American poetry.
We will explore the words of Zen masters Joshu and Ummon, the Chinese poets Wang Wei, Tu Fu and Han Shan, haiku and tanka of well-known poets such as Basho and Ryokan as well as lesser-known poets such as Hitomaro, classical Persian poets such as Rumi and Kabir, and Western poets such as Antonio Machado, Wallace Stevens, Jane Hirshfield, Rita Dove and Billy Collins.
Students will be encouraged (not required) to write and share their own poetry and to view poetry not as a solitary means of escape, but as a lens to examine experience, the mind, and the world.
The course will be held online each Sunday at 4 p.m., beginning on Sunday, October 15 except during sesshin on October 29, November 12, and December 3. Each class will last approximately 90 minutes. The fee for the course is $100 for Zen Studies Society members, $200 for nonmembers, and $50 for ordained. No one will be turned away for lack of funds; please contact the office for support. A suggested reading list will be provided upon registration. The deadline for registration is October 14. Registgration is closed for this event – we hope to see you in the future at New York Zendo or Dai Bosatsu Zendo or online.

NYZ: Call Me By My True Names
2023-11-18 14:00 - 16:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Exploring Identities, Complexes and Compassion with Jifu Devyani Sadh.
Please call me by my true names, so I can wake up and the door of my heart could be left open, the door of compassion. — Thich Nhat Hanh
This transformative workshop is an introspective exploration of the profound impact of our various identities on our experiences and our journey toward transcending all identities.
We will begin with a brief period of Zazen followed by an investigation of the superiority complex, a formidable barrier to authentic human connection. Together, we will aim to unveil the origins of this complex and discern effective strategies for disentangling its grip. Our exploration will continue as we navigate the terrain of insecurities and self-doubts, addressing the pervasive inferiority complex. We will illuminate ways in which this complex shapes our lives and facilitate the discovery of methods to unburden ourselves. At the core of our workshop, we confront the equality complex. We will examine this through the lens of Thich Nhat Hanh and Rinzai Zen, contemplating the delusion of the separate self and exploring ways to unlock the door of compassion.
Facilitating this transformative experience is Jifu, a psychologist and dedicated Zen practitioner of over 25 years, deeply immersed in both the Thich Nhat Hanh tradition and Rinzai Zen. Her unique blend of insights, grounded in her reception of the precepts in both traditions, will help guide our collective dialogue, unraveling the complexities of our human experience. Join us on this illuminating journey as we navigate the intricacies of our identities and nurture the seeds of compassion within.
A $10 donation is encouraged, but not mandatory. The workshop is designed for a small group of people and space is limited, so please register early! ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: The Shape of Awake: Meditation and the Alexander Technique with Hope Martin
2024-01-06 10:00 - 17:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
To take this posture itself is the purpose of our practice. When you have this posture, you have the right state of mind, so there is no need to try to attain some special state. —Suzuki Roshi
Are you uncomfortable or in pain when you meditate? Is it challenging to sit for long periods of time? Or is it just hard to stay present? Discover how being fully present and at ease in your body transforms your practice and your life!
Being upright is not just an arbitrary shape; it’s a perfect expression of meditation itself. In this day-long workshop, Hope, a master teacher of the Alexander Technique, will help you discover ease and non-striving in meditation and other activities. Her hands-on work makes subtle adjustments to the head, neck and back to access effortless, balanced posture — both light and grounded.
The process teaches awareness of habits that result in pain, fixed posture and mind-set, and shows us how to shift to a more open, balanced way of being that is our birthright. It’s not about improving or getting away from anything. Rather, by learning about and honoring the many moments of response that are our habits, we become actively engaged in the process of befriending ourselves.
The workshop includes instruction on basic body mechanics and alignment, experiential exercises and hands-on from the instructor to help improve your posture and release unnecessary tension in your meditation practice and in your life. There will be a break midday for lunch (not provided). New and experienced meditators are welcome.
Hope Martin has taught the Alexander Technique for over 35 years and operates Hope Martin Studio in New York City. She is a Senior Teacher who trained Alexander teachers for 25 years at the American Center for the Alexander Technique. She is also a Meditation Instructor and a Focusing trainer. Hope had a 20-year teaching partnership with David Rome where they developed and taught Embodied Listening bringing together Meditation, the Alexander Technique and Focusing.
She has been a close student of Pema Chodron for 30 years. Hope specializes in working with meditators, bringing more ease to their practice. She has taught in meditation halls and zendos throughout the U.S. and Canada. Her particular passion is in helping her students discover how easeful, upright posture is an expression of their human dignity, confidence and innate wakefulness.
No one will be turned away for lack of funds; please email the NYZ office at office@newyorkzendo.org for assistance. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Tea with the Abbot
2024-01-15 10:00 - 12:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Chigan Roshi and Shuko-san invite members of the New York Zendo sangha to join them for informal tea and light snacks in the Dharma hall on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Please join the Zen Studies Society’s third abbot for a lighthearted reception and casual conversation at the beginning of 2024. All are welcome; no registration is necessary. Donations welcome.

NYZ: Zazenkai with Matsubara Osho
2024-01-28 17:00 - 18:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Imagine sitting quietly in meditation. Pause, reset, and recharge yourself. You are in complete control of your emotions and the stress from your busy lifestyle. You are experiencing a state of quiet, relaxing, body-mind equilibrium. This is a time to calmly face yourself.
Zazenkai is a monthly meeting that offers a talk, Zen meditation, tea (hoji-cha) and sweets, and a Q&A. 30 seats are available. The fee is $30 per person. No experience is required. The instructor is Rev. Dr. Masaki Matsubara, Rinzai Zen priest and Visiting Lecturer of Contemplative Studies, Brown University. Please email mmatsubara@outlook.com to register. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Found in the Flowers - An Ikebana Workshop
2024-05-19 14:00 - 15:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
Commune with flowers and learn about the Japanese art of ikebana in this workshop. We will begin with a brief history overview of the art form, observe an ikebana demonstration illustrating basic principles and techniques, and then spend the majority of the time creating our own arrangements.
All supplies (scissors, vases, and flowers) are provided, and you will take your arrangements home with you.
This class is a perfect opportunity for anyone to start practicing the meditative art of ikebana and for Zen practitioners to learn a skill for altar care.
Fees for this workshop are $50 for members and $60 for non-members. Consider becoming a Supporting Member. Sangha members who volunteer to maintain Shobo-ji’s altar arrangements will receive a discount on the course fee. Contact office@newyorkzendo.org to inquire. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
About the Instructor:
Studying Sogetsu ikebana since 2015 with Mrs. Fumiko Allinder (a long-established teacher who learned directly from the founder of Sogetsu school Sofu Teshigahara) and with Christine Donck Guelton since 2023, Kristina finds solace in ikebana and loves sharing her appreciation of this timeless art.

NYZ: Day of Zen
2024-06-02 09:00 - 17:00 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
For newcomers and experienced practitioners alike, the Day of Zen at New York Zendo Shobo-ji is an opportunity to discover or reacquaint yourself with the essentials of Rinzai Zen Buddhist practice. This one-day session will include an introduction to zazen (seated meditation with attention to breath and posture); choka (morning chanting service); and samu (work practice). Participants will also learn how to use jihatsu (nested meal bowls) in a formal silent lunch. The afternoon will conclude with a Dharma talk by a resident teacher, followed by informal tea and a Q&A period.
This is the tentative schedule of the day’s activities
9 a.m. Doors open, check in
9:30 a.m. Welcome, overview of the day, chanting instruction
10 a.m. Morning chanting service (choka); short break
11 a.m. Instruction on zazen (sitting meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation)
Noon Zazen, kinhin, zazen
1 p.m. Jihatsu lunch with instruction
2 p.m. Nittensoji (cleaning), including lunch clean-up; short break
2:50 p.m. Shinrei (warning bell)
3 p.m. Dharma talk
3:30 p.m. Zazen
4 p.m. Closing, informal Q&A, tea and conversation
5 p.m. Departure
The fee for the day is $40 for Supporting Members and $50 for nonmembers. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of ZSS. If you are a current sangha member and can volunteer to assist for the day the fee will be waived; please contact office@newyorkzendo.org. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Tao Te Ching Summer Calligraphy Workshop
2024-06-07 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-06-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-06-21 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-06-28 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-07-12 18:30 - 20:30, 2024-07-19 18:30 - 20:30 | New York Zendo, 223 E 67th St, New York, NY, 10065
June 7 – Aug 2, 2024 (No class on 7/5)
Join Ines Sun for an eight-week calligraphy course based on Lao-Tzu’s Tao Te Ching. The evening will begin with tea in silence. After tea, each week we will focus on calligraphy characters related to a single chapter of the Tao Te Ching. As we read and write the text together, we will gain a deeper insight into the meaning by connecting with some of the original characters. This course is designed as a series, but each individual class may be taken separately.
The Tao Te Ching summer calligraphy workshop will use the Thomas Cleary translation with commentary from a 17th century Rinzai Zen Master, Takuan Soho and The Wisdom of Laotse by Li YuTang, a renowned 20th Century writer with an intellectual and spiritual approach.
You may wish to obtain your own copy, though there will be one available to read together at the workshop. All calligraphy supplies will be provided. Prior experience is helpful, but not required. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
About Ines Sun
Ines Sun learned calligraphy as a child and found a deep connection with the art as an adult. Her aim is to help others find joy and profound peace in this ancient art. Calligraphy has also served as a means for her to unite her spiritual practice with the physical form of the brush. In addition to offering basic and advanced instruction, she offers calligraphy workshops in sutra writing.
Cost:
$40 single class
$300 8-week series
Date and Time:
Fridays 6:30-8:30pm
6/7/24 – 8/2/24
No class will be offered on 7/5
Please register at www.inessun.com.
