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NYZ: Introduction to Zen Meditation with Junryu Roshi

May 30, 2025 by Sabrina Plum

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.

Tagged With: Beginner Friendly, Zazen

NYZ: Suizen Intensive

May 5, 2025 by Sabrina Plum

Suizen, or “blowing Zen”, refers to the spiritual practice of playing the shakuhachi flute during zazen. The honkyoku repertoire of the shakuhachi – which was developed specifically for Zen practice – has particular technical and aesthetic features that allow it to resist being heard as “music.” Therefore, it tends not to distract the meditating mind in the way that other music might. Compared to other shakuhachi repertoires, honkyoku pieces feature fewer notes with a focus on ornamentation and timbral effects.

There is a famous saying from the world of suizen: ichion jobutsu, meaning “enlightenment in a single note.” Come join us for an afternoon of immersion in this one mysterious note.

Our program will include six forty-minute periods of suizen, with kinhin (walking meditation) in between. Participants must have completed an Introduction to Zen Meditation class before registering.

Solo shakuhachi will be played by Karaku Marco Burmester, who has been studying shakuhachi in New York City and Kyoto since 2006. Karaku has a long-time connection to Dai Bosatsu Zendo as a student of Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin, who held workshops at DBZ for many years. He has recently been awarded his shakuhachi teaching certificate and is looking forward to sharing his practice of suizen with the Zen Studies Society Sangha.

The fee for this event is $40 for nonmembers and $30 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. If you have any questions, please email office@newyorkzendo.org before registering. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

Tagged With: Special Events, Zazen

NYZ: Suizen Intensive

May 5, 2025 by Sabrina Plum

Suizen, or “blowing Zen”, refers to the spiritual practice of playing the shakuhachi flute during zazen. The honkyoku repertoire of the shakuhachi – which was developed specifically for Zen practice – has particular technical and aesthetic features that allow it to resist being heard as “music.” Therefore, it tends not to distract the meditating mind in the way that other music might. Compared to other shakuhachi repertoires, honkyoku pieces feature fewer notes with a focus on ornamentation and timbral effects.

There is a famous saying from the world of suizen: ichion jobutsu, meaning “enlightenment in a single note.” Come join us for an afternoon of immersion in this one mysterious note.

Our program will include six forty-minute periods of suizen, with kinhin (walking meditation) in between. Participants must have completed an Introduction to Zen Meditation class before registering.

Solo shakuhachi will be played by Karaku Marco Burmester, who has been studying shakuhachi in New York City and Kyoto since 2006. Karaku has a long-time connection to Dai Bosatsu Zendo as a student of Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin, who held workshops at DBZ for many years. He has recently been awarded his shakuhachi teaching certificate and is looking forward to sharing his practice of suizen with the Zen Studies Society Sangha.

The fee for this event is $40 for nonmembers and $30 for Zen Studies Society (ZSS) members. Note that the member price is for ZSS members only – please consider becoming a Supporting Member. If you have any questions, please email office@newyorkzendo.org before registering. ZSS Health Protocols apply. Note that there will be a second Suizen Intensive offered on July 20, 2025.

Tagged With: Special Events, Zazen

NYZ: Open House

February 21, 2025 by Sabrina Plum

Open House at New York Zendo Shobo-ji

Come join the practice community at New York Zendo Shobo-ji for informal tea and conversation, meditation with experienced Zen students, and a chance to tour our historic city temple.

This is an excellent opportunity to discover Zen practice for yourself within an oasis of calm in the heart of Manhattan. Zazen meditation instruction will be offered throughout the day, with silent zazen periods held in the Zendo. Share tea and chat with Zen practitioners in the Dharma Hall, or enjoy a variety of fresh baked goods made with care in the temple kitchen.

No registration or prior experience necessary, all are welcome. ZSS Health Protocols apply.

Tagged With: Beginner Friendly, Zazen

NYZ: Seiza Quiet-sitting & Dharma Talk on Shin Buddhism

December 26, 2024 by Sabrina Plum

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.

Tagged With: Beginner Friendly, Dharma Talk, Zazen

NYZ: Zazen and Tai Chi

December 5, 2024 by Sabrina Plum

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.

Tagged With: Tai Chi, Zazen

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Dai Bosatsu Zendo
223 Beecher Lake Road
Livingston Manor, NY 12758

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223 East 67th Street
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