Zen Studies Society

NYZ: Morning Zazen
2025-02-06 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-10 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-11 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-12 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-13 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-19 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-20 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-02-24 06:45 - 07:45 (America/New_York) and 5 more dates | 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.

NYZ: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism
2025-02-08 14:00 - 16:00, 2025-02-22 14:00 - 16:00
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: Sunday Morning Service and Zazen
2025-02-09 10:00 - 13:00, 2025-03-02 10:00 - 13:00
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: Zazen and Tai Chi
2025-02-11 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-25 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-03-04 19:00 - 21:00
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: Evening Zazen
2025-02-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-19 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-02-26 19:00 - 21:00
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: Parinirvana Weekend Sesshin
2025-02-14 19:00 - 2025-02-16 18:00
This sesshin honors Shakyamuni Buddha’s final passage into Nirvana, marking the moment of his Parinirvana—the ultimate liberation from the cycle of birth and death. It serves as a time for reflection on mortality, impermanence, and the importance of practice. We will also commemorate the passing of Eido Tai Shimano Roshi, founding abbot of Dai Bosatsu Zendo, who left this life on 19 February 2018.
Led by Chigan Roshi, this weekend sesshin will include zazen, choka (morning service), sarei (formal tea), and formal jihatsu meals. Dokusan (one-on-one interviews) and teisho (Dharma talks) will also be offered. Full-time participation is encouraged; part-time attendance will be considered as space allows. For more detail and to see a typical sesshin schedule, please visit the NYZ Weekend Sesshin page.
The fee for this sesshin is $175 for nonmembers and $150 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@newyorkzendo.org before registering. No one will be turned away for lack of funds, please contact office@newyorkzendo.org for support. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Temple Closed
2025-02-17
New York Zendo Shobo-ji is closed today. Please check the calendar for schedule modifications.

NYZ: Introduction to Zen Meditation
2025-02-20 18:45 - 21:00, 2025-02-27 18:45 - 21:00
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: Open AA 11th Step Meeting
2025-02-22 11:00 - 12:45
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.

NYZ: Mandala Day Service, Zazen and Informal Lunch
2025-02-23 10:00 - 13:30
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.
