Zen Studies Society

NYZ: Morning Zazen
2025-06-11 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-12 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-16 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-17 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-18 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-19 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-23 06:45 - 07:45, 2025-06-24 06:45 - 07:45 (America/New_York) and 2 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: Evening Zazen
2025-06-11 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-06-18 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-06-25 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: Neurodiversity in Zen Series
2025-06-11 20:00 - 20:45, 2025-06-18 20:00 - 20:45, 2025-06-25 20:00 - 20:45
Wednesdays | June 4th – June 25th, 2025 | 8:00pm – 8:45pm
In Faith in Mind, Sosan Ganchi Zenji, the third ancestor, teaches that when Mind and individual minds are not separate, the Way is truly perceived. But each mind is unique, shaped by its own complex inner workings, which in turn influence who we are and how we live in the world.
Some minds have a similar set of inner workings that set them apart from most others. These minds are often labeled with terms like Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and others—labels that set them apart, imposing on them a desire to change them and make them like most other minds. The concept of neurodiversity offers an alternative way of understanding minds labeled in this way, one that accepts and values them exactly as they are.
For four Wednesdays in June, Rogen Daniel Batkin, a neurodivergent Zen student, will lead us on an exploration of what it is like to be neurodivergent in Zen practice, from collectively exploring feelings of being left out, to unique ways of perceiving the sensory world, to how the concept of “normality” fits (or doesn’t fit) with the fundamental teachings of Zen. Each class will include a guided discussion or exercise designed to connect the concept of neurodiversity with aspects of Zen practice, fostering a deeper understanding of the many ways our minds perceive the world around us. Some prior experience with Zen philosophy is recommended, but not required.
Together, we can foster acceptance. Together, we can foster Mind.
The fee for this series is $40 for nonmembers and $30 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members, and it will be offered both in-person and online. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. A Zoom link will be shared one week before the event. If you have any questions, please email office@newyorkzendo.org before registering. ZSS Health Protocols apply for in-person participants.

NYZ: Introduction to Zen Meditation
2025-06-12 18:45 - 21:00, 2025-06-26 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: Spring Sutra Collective
2025-06-14 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-06-27 17:30 - 18:30
Fridays | May 16th – June 27th, 2025 | 5:30 – 6:30pm
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.
This event will take place immediately before Zen in Four Ways – Chinese Calligraphy Workshop and the schedule will be as follows:

Friday May 16th
Friday May 23rd and 30th
Friday June 6th and Saturday June 14th*
Friday June 27th

*Please note that class will be held on Saturday June 14th instead of Friday. The Sutra Collective will not be held on June 20th as the calligraphy group will be going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
There is no fee for this class, all are welcome! ZSS Health Protocols apply.

NYZ: Zen in Four Ways - Chinese Calligraphy Workshop
2025-06-14 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-06-20 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-06-27 18:30 - 20:30
Fridays | May 9th – June 27th, 2025 | 6:30 – 8:30pm
Join Ines Sun at New York Zendo for an eight-week exploration of Chinese calligraphy, offering a hands-on introduction to four major styles. Each session provides time for focused practice, allowing students to deepen their understanding through direct experience. We’ll begin each session with a welcoming cup of tea in the garden, a gesture reflecting the spirit of literati leisure, followed by a continuation of our Tao Te Ching reading from where we left off last summer.
Towards the end of the course, the class will visit the Chinese and Japanese galleries at the Metropolitan Museum of Art where you will view masterworks of calligraphy, including pieces by Zen monks whose practice connected their breath to their brushstrokes. Among them is Ryōkan Taigu (良寬大愚), one of Ines’ favorite calligraphy artists.
No prior experience necessary, all materials provided. ZSS Health Protocols apply.
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:

Seal Style (篆): Friday May 9th and 16th
Clerical Style (隸): Friday May 23rd and 30th
Regular Script (楷): Friday June 6th and Saturday June 14th*
Metropolitan Museum of Art Visit: Friday June 20th
Semi Cursive and Cursive (行草): Friday June 27th

*Please note that class will be held on Saturday June 14th instead of Friday.
The fee for this course is:
$40 single class
$300 8-week series
To make a payment and register, please use Venmo: Ines Sun @pencilnyc or Zelle: inesthsun@gmail.com
Please call Ines directly at 646-321-8331 with any questions.

NYZ: Intro to Zen Day
2025-06-15 09:00 - 17:00
For newcomers and experienced practitioners alike, the Intro to Zen Day 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.
The fee for this program is $60 for nonmembers and $50 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. If you are a current Sangha member and would like to volunteer for the day in exchange for admission please contact office@newyorkzendo.org. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

Typical schedule (subject to change):

9:00
Doors open, check-in, find robes

9:30
Welcome, overview of the day, instruction on chanting

10:00
Choka (morning chanting service)

10:50
Short break

11:00
Instruction for zazen (seated meditation) and kinhin (walking meditation)

Noon
Zazen, kinhin, zazen

1:00
Jihastu lunch with instruction

2:00
Nittensoji (cleaning) including lunch clean-up

2:40
Short break

2:50
Shinrei (warning bell)

3:00
Dharma talk

3:30
Zazen

4:00
Closing, tea, informal Q&A and conversation

5:00
Departure

NYZ: Zazen and Tai Chi
2025-06-17 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-06-24 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: Introduction to Zen Meditation with Junryu Roshi
2025-06-19 18:15 - 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).
At the invitation of Chigan Roshi, Junryu Roshi teaches at NYZ on occasion. Junryu Roshi is the founder of Eiryu-ji Zen Center, a Dharma teacher in the lineage of Taizan Maezumi Roshi, a member of the White Plum Sangha, and a 6th Dan Aikido teacher (Shidoin). On the evening of June 19th, Junryu Roshi will lead the introductory class and offer teisho, a formal Zen talk.
Junryu Roshi is available for individual practice interviews and for assistance with physical sitting issues from 5 p.m. Please email the NYZ office if you would like to meet with him.
Please note this evening’s program will begin earlier than usual – doors open at 5:45 p.m. Beginners’ instruction and zazen for those who do not attend the instruction begin at 6:15 p.m. The program runs until approximately 9 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.
A $10 donation payable by purchasing a pass below is requested from non-members. Please consider becoming a Supporting Member of the Zen Studies Society. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

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

NYZ: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism
2025-06-21 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: Mandala Day Service, Zazen and Informal Lunch
2025-06-22 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.

NYZ: Sunday Morning Service and Zazen
2025-06-29 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.
