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Teachings

What Is Zen?

What is Zen? It’s both something we are—our true nature expressing itself moment by moment—and something we do—a disciplined practice through which we can realize the joy of being. It is not a belief system to which one converts. There is no dogma or doctrine. Zen is the direct experience of what we might call ultimate reality, or the absolute, yet it is not separate from the ordinary, the relative. This direct experience is our birthright. The practice of zazen—meditation—is a way of realizing the non-dualistic, vibrant, subtle, and interconnected nature of all life.  Read More

How To Practice

Zen is a path that must be studied, practiced, and actualized. The core of Zen is zazen, which requires motivation, patience, discipline, and dedication, and is cultivated through repeated, consistent practice.

Formal Zen practice begins with two basic activities: we sit, and we breathe, with awareness. From that basic engagement, we extend the activity to include walking, chanting, eating, working—every aspect of daily life.  Read More

Our Teachers

Chigan-kutsu Kyo-On Dokuro R. Jaeckel, our abbot, began formal Zen practice in 1982 in Austria with Genro Seiun Osho, a disciple of Denkyo-shitsu Kyozan Joshu Roshi. He was ordained a Rinzai Zen monk by Joshu Roshi in 1989 at Mt. Baldy Zen Center in California and a Zen teacher, Osho, in 2004. His affiliation with the Zen Studies Society began in 2012 when Joshu Roshi retired from teaching. He received Dharma Transmission in 2017 from Shinge Roshi and underwent an Entrustment ceremony in 2020, becoming Chigan Roshi. On November 24, 2023, he was installed as the third abbot of the Zen Studies Society by Shinge-shitsu Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi.  Read More

Talks and Videos

Here are videos and podcasts of our teachers and guests talks. Take a moment for yourself and listen.   Click here.

Reading List

There are many, many great books on the subject of Buddha’s teachings, so we have compiled a list you may find helpful.   Read More

Our Books

We have published several books that are not available anywhere else.  Read More

Sutra Book

For a pdf of the Zen Studies Society daily sutras, click here.

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PRACTICE

What Is Zen?
Zen is the direct experience of what we might call ultimate reality, or the absolute, yet it is not separate from the ordinary, the relative. Read More

How To Practice:
Zen is a path that must be studied, practiced, and actualized. The core of Zen practice is Zazen. Read More

Get Involved

Volunteer
Join us in work practice for an hour, a day or weekend. Read More

Become a Member
Members help ensure that our temples are places of spiritual renewal and strong Dharma activity for generations to come. Read More

Engage
The Engaged Buddhism group seeks to cultivate a more integrated, inclusive, and ethical way of being in the world. Read More

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Locations

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

New York Zendo
223 East 67th Street
New York, NY 10065


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Contact Us

Dai Bosatsu Zendo
office@daibosatsu.org
(845) 439-4566

New York Zendo
office@newyorkzendo.org
(212) 861-3333

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