WEEKLY UPDATE

MON 29 DECEMBER - SUN 4 JANUARY 2026

RING IN THE NEW YEAR AT CZC! NEW YEAR’S EVE KIDO CHANTING!

WEDNESDAY 31 DECEMBER. 9:00 PM – 12:00 AM

Join us for a special New Year's Eve Kido (extended chanting) practice. We will chant the Thousand Hands and Eyes Sutra, followed by Kwan Seum Bosal chanting until the stroke of midnight. You may join for all or part of the practice, and can leave for breaks throughout as needed. Sparkling cider and other snacks to follow.

500 BOWS FOR THE NEW YEAR!

THURSDAY 1 JANUARY 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Join us for special New Year bowing practice. We will do five sets of 108 bows together – full prostrations, standing bows or chair bows, whatever speaks to your body's needs. There will be a break between each set of bows. We will end with a brief New Year circle talk ... then refreshments!

TWO-DAY RETREAT

SAT & SUN 10-11 JANUARY

LED BY DYAN EAGLES, JDPSN

Registration is now open until Thursday 8 January

YONG MAENG JONG JIN (YMJJ) MEANS “TO LEAP LIKE A TIGER WHILE SITTING.” RETREATS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN OUR PRACTICE, TO PERCEIVE MORE CLEARLY AND ACT FROM OUR NATURAL COMPASSION AND WISDOM.

Special Programs

Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups

SPECIAL PROGRAM

Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups

TUESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER at 5:30 PM Come early and join us for dinner with a $10 suggested donation followed by chanting at 6:30 prior to the standard Tuesday Long Sitting.

TUESDAY LONG SITTING & CONSULTING INTERVIEWS with Raimondas Lencevicious, Senior Dharma Teacher

TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER 7:30-9:30PM

Join URL: Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID 858 3084 3540

There will be two sitting periods of 30 mins each with 10 mins break in between periods. You may join the Zoom meeting at 7:25-7:30 PM or 8:00-8:10 PM. If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY INITIATIVE / Unpacking Whiteness

WEDNESDAY 7 JANUARY. 8:15-9:15 PM

Description: CZC provides safe spaces in which to share and work through sensitive topics for spiritual growth.

Please Note: This group continues to meet over Zoom on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month. The BIPOC group is temporarily paused, we will notify you when it resumes meeting.

Join URL: SJDI / 817 4548 4299

MEDITATION INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS- CANCELLED

THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER 6:45-7:25 PM*

( Will resume January 8th.)

This introduction to meditation is offered weekly in person for those new to Cambridge Zen Center or meditation practice. Highly recommended for new students prior to attending a practice session. Your questions will be answered and you are welcome to repeat sessions. Meditation Instruction is in person.

DHARMA TALK -CANCELLED DUE TO HOLIDAY

THURSDAY 31 DECEMBER 7:30 PM

Join URL: Dharma Talk / Meeting ID 876 2455 3876

SUNDAY LONG SITTING & CONSULTING INTERVIEWS with Senior Dharma Teacher Jean Murphy

Sunday, 4 JANUARY 9:00-11:30 AM

Join Zoom URL: Sun Long Sitting / Meeting ID 816 7973 3521

Note: There will be two sitting periods of 30 mins each with 10 mins break in between periods. You may join the Zoom meeting at 9:00 AM or 9:30-9:40 AM. If new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms. Join us for refreshments after the siting.

YOUNG ZEN SUNDAY 4 JANUARY

Sundays 12:30 - 1:30 PM

Description: Come to the center to begin or deepen your meditation practice in community with other students and young adults. Each session includes sitting and walking meditation, a check-in, and a short talk or reading about how to integrate Zen practice into everyday life. You are also welcome to join our PM Zen Meditation Practice (see below). If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.

Regular Practice

Daily Sitting & Chanting

AM ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE

Bows 5:45 AM daily except Sunday

Chanting 6:10 AM daily except Tuesday and Sunday

Sitting 6:35 AM daily except on Tuesday and Sunday

Description: AM Meditation Practice in person consists of bows and the Morning Bell Chant followed by the Heart Sutra in English. There is a 30-minute period of sitting.

MID DAY ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE

Sitting 12:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday for 30 minutes. There is no need to register, just ring the door bell for entrance 10 minutes beforehand.

PM ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE

Special chanting 6:30 PM daily

Regular chanting 7:00 PM daily

Sitting 7:30 PM daily except on Thursday*

Description: PM Meditation Practice consists of a 35-minute period of sitting followed by a short reading concluding at 8:10 PM. Note: *On Tuesday evenings, join us for two sitting periods with interviews from 7:30 PM - 8:40PM. You may join the Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID 85830843540 Please join the meeting on time.

Upcoming & Ongoing

Events / News

Protect The Jewel We are so grateful for your support in keeping our doors open for 50 years! Please help us continue to serve the needs of the community for a long time to come by using any of the following ways to donate: click on the “Protect the Jewel” for GoFundMe; find Venmo@cambridgezencenter under “Czc Zen”; a new plate for credit card donations is near the wood stove, and a donation box is located in the Reception Room for cash or mail us a check to Cambridge Zen Center. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and our Tax ID is listed at the bottom of this page.

CZC Residency: If you have wanted to live in a practicing community, for either short or long-term, your opportunity awaits! Check out our residential requirements and for more information contact abbot@cambridgezen.org. Applications can be submitted online.

Membership is the most effective way to help the Cambridge Zen Center and receive discounts. When you join as a member, you also join the Kwan Um School of Zen, a worldwide community. Become a member today by completing this https://americas.kwa

Online Sangha Events are also available at any sister sangha in the Kwan Um School of Zen Americas. See other opportunities in Europe and Asia, plus another calendar of KUOS events with schedules for online retreats and practice opportunities.

Composting Our Karma; Turning Confusion into Lessons for Awakening Our Innate Wisdom. A new book by our School Zen Master, Barbara Rhodes, Zen Master Soeng Hyang is out and is available for purchase at Shambhalla Publishers, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, at the CZC Book Store and at Providence Zen Center.

KWan UM WorldwidE

Events at Sister Sanghas