Zen Studies Society

NYZ: Evening Zazen
2025-09-03 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-08 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-10 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-09-17 19:00 - 21:00 (America/New_York) | 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: Morning Zazen
2025-09-04 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-08 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-09 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-10 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-11 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-18 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-22 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-09-23 06:45 - 07:45
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: Introduction to Zen Meditation
2025-09-04 18:45 - 21:00, 2025-09-11 18:45 - 21:00, 2025-09-18 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: Summer Sutra Collective
2025-09-05 19:00 - 20:30
Fridays | July 18th – September 5th, 2025 | 7:00 – 8:30 pm
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, July 18th and 25th
Friday, August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th
Friday, September 5th

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

NYZ: Open AA 11th Step Meeting
2025-09-06 11:00 - 12:45, 2025-09-20 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: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism
2025-09-06 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
2025-09-07 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: How to Boil Water - Serving Tea with the Senses
2025-09-07 14:30 - 16:00
Do you add honey to your green tea because it’s bitter? Wondering what to do about that bland, lukewarm sarei sencha? Would you like to prepare any type of tea with more confidence?
The training of every tea student begins with boiling water. In this class, sangha member Enkai will lead a practical workshop on how to boil water without relying on thermometers or timers.
Join us for a fun afternoon of experimentation and practice, including meditating to a boiling kettle and learning how to make tea for sarei.
The fee for this workshop is $15, please purchase a ticket below. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Zazen and Tai Chi
2025-09-09 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: 57th Anniversary Weekend Sesshin
2025-09-12 19:00 - 2025-09-14 18:00
Join Chigan Roshi and the New York Zendo Shobo-ji Sangha to commemorate the founding of our temple. Established on September 15,1968 by Hakuun Yasutani Roshi and Eido Shimano Roshi, New York Zendo Shobo-ji was one of the first Rinzai Zen practice centers in the United States. For over half a century we have continued to offer authentic Rinzai Zen training amid the bustle of life in Manhattan.
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
2025-09-15, 2025-09-16
New York Zendo Shobo-ji is closed today. Please check the calendar for schedule modifications.

NYZ: Zen Kokyu & Shojin Ryori
2025-09-17 11:00 - 12:30
Mindful Breathing & Shitake Tasting | Special Workshop in Collaboration with Resobox
Discover the power of Zen Kokyn (Zen Breathing) and the mindful flavors of Shojin Ryori (traditional plant-based temple cuisine) in this special cultural workshop at New York Zendo. Presented by Resobox, this event includes a guided Zen Breathing practice with Yuki Shiina, a Shojin Ryori tasting featuring Takachiho-grown dried shiitake mushrooms, and insights into Zen and mindful living.
Resobox, in the East Village, is a place where people who are conversant with, dedicated to, and influenced by Japanese culture can gather, create innovative arts through the collaborative process, and disseminate them to the world.
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 necessary. The fee for this workshop is $50, please register by purchasing a ticket below. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Autumn Sutra Collective
2025-09-19 18:30 - 20:30
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: Dharma Talk with Hokuto Osho
2025-09-21 10:00 - 13:30
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
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
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.
