Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
WEEKLY UPDATE
MON 10 MARCH - SUN 16 MARCH 2025
One evening, after a Dharma talk at the Cambridge Zen Center, a student asked Seung Sahn Soen-sa, “What is love?” Soen-sa said, “I ask you: what is love?” The student was silent. Soen-sa said, “This is love.” The student was still silent. Soen-sa said, “You ask me: I ask you. This is love."
…Zen Master Seung Sahn
To join in person, visit the Guidelines for our health and safety protocols. All times are Eastern Standard Time.
Special Programs
Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups
ONE DAY COLLEGE RETREAT
LED BY MATT KEELER, JDPSN
SATURDAY 29 MARCH 2025. 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Note: Registration CLOSES Thursday 27 March at noon.
This popular biannual retreat for college students is an intensive day of meditation with your peers in a non-threatening environment in a serenely lovely dharma room. Included is instruction, a dharma talk, a few hours of sitting meditation in 30 minute segments alternating with 10 minutes of walking meditation, a delicious vegetarian lunch, a walk outside, and a personal kong-an session. Cost is $35. A rare and precious opportunity for personal growth and insight.
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DHARMA TALK - THURSDAY 13 MARCH 7:30-8:30PM
Join this event over Zoom: Meeting ID 876 2455 3876
Dharma talks give you an opportunity to ask questions you might have about Buddhism, Zen teachings, or the connection between Zen meditation and daily life. This event is followed by refreshments and social time.
ZEN MASTER BON YEON, JANE DOBISZ will answer questions after an introductory talk by EMMY DARO.
Zen Master Bon Yeon (Jane McLaughlin-Dobisz) is our Guiding Teacher at Cambridge Zen Center since 1993. She received inka (authorization to teach) in 1991, and transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn to become a Zen Master in 2000. Before training in the Kwan Um School of Zen, she spent several years in the Tibetan and the Vipassana traditions. Zen Master Bon Yeon has completed and led many Kyol Che 90 day retreats in the US, Europe, and Korea, and taught around the world. She is an editor of The Whole World Is A Single Flower, a collection of kong-ans by Zen Master Seung Sahn. She is also the author of One Hundred Days of Solitude: Losing Myself and Finding Grace on a Zen Retreat, which chronicles a one hundred-day solo meditation retreat in the winter woods of New England. She is a native of Rhode Island and lives in the Boston Area. She is married and has two grown children.
TUESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER at 5:30 PM
Come early and join us for a delicious vegetarian dinner with a $10 suggested donation followed by chanting at 6:30PM prior to the standard Tuesday Long Sitting.
TUESDAY 11 MARCH 7:30-9:30 PM
Join URL: Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID: 858 3084 3540
Colin Beavan, JDPSN will offer KONG-AN Interviews. There will be three sitting periods of 30 minutes. -
- 7:30-8:00pm Sitting (interviews begin) - 8:00-8:10pm Walking
- 8:10-8:40pm Sitting - 8:40-8:50pm Walking
- 8:50-9:20pm Sitting - 9:20-9:30pm Heart Sutra, Great Dharani, 4 Great Vows
If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.
BIPOC GROUP/ SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE is taking a 2 month pause.
In these 90-minute sessions, we explore practices that link to our various experiences of belonging and otherness, as well as our interest in social, racial, and environmental justice. Our group is especially interested in engaged Buddhism, and our practices will include 30 minutes of sitting meditation alongside diverse other forms of practice. Our aim is to create practice space, encourage interfaith Zen dialogue, and build community. All those who identify as BIPOC are welcome to join our practice sessions. Please contact kfoo (kaephu@proton.me) with questions or to join our list!
UNPACKING WHITENESS /SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
WED 19 MARCH 8:15PM - 9:15 PM
Meeting ID: 81745484299
(1st & 3rd Wednesdays on Zoom)
In these one hour meetings, we join together to talk about race and dharma practice, and examine how white privilege operates as we examine the question "What Am I?" The group is currently working with Composting Our Karma: Turning Confusion into Lessons for Awakening Our Innate Wisdom by Barbara Rhodes, Zen Master Soeng Hyang. We use three passages from the book followed by questions to guide our discussion. There is no need to purchase the book, the passages for discussion are posted in the zoom chat. We welcome new members - no experience necessary. Inquiries are presented and facilitated by Senior Dharma Teacher Jennifer Magrone, who brings over ten years of professional experience with addressing how bias and identity oppression operate. If you are curious - please join us!
MEDITATION INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS
THURSDAY 13 MARCH 6:45-7:30PM
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.
SUNDAY 16 MARCH 9:00-11:30 AM
Meeting ID 816 7973 3521
Colin Beavan, JDPSN will offer Kong-An Interviews. You may join the Zoom meeting at 9:00 AM or 9:30-9:40 AM. The long sitting concludes with the Four Great Vows. The last Sunday and Tuesday of each month will feature zoom participants first for interviews.
Download 2 Chants and 4 Great Vows
SUNDAY 16 MARCH 12:30-1:30 PM
Begin or deepen your meditation practice in community with other students and young adults. Each session includes sitting meditation, a check-in, and then a short talk or reading about how to integrate Zen practice into everyday life followed by refreshments.
ELDER ZEN
SATURDAY 22 MARCH 11AM-12:30PM
How does Zen Buddhist practice relate to our experiences of aging? Join us in a supportive community at the Cambridge Zen Center to explore this question through meditation and discussion. We will begin with 20 minutes of sitting meditation, followed by a group discussion of a pertinent topic … then refreshments! All are welcome, and instruction is available for people who are new to meditation. RSVP by email to director@cambridgezen.org
PRISON ZEN RETREAT
SATURDAY 3 MAY 9AM - 3:30PM
The Prison Dharma Program is inviting interested people to attend a one-day retreat at Old Colony Correctional Center in Bridgewater, Mass. The retreat will follow a format similar to that used at Cambridge Zen Center, including interviews and an informal vegetarian lunch. We will carpool from CZC. This is an opportunity to provide real support to our incarcerated Dharma brothers, and to let them see that they are not forgotten by the sangha! Familiarity with KUSZ practice forms, and a desire to help this world is all that is required.
To learn more, email Mark O'Leary directly at moleary93@gmail.com to be included in an informational Zoom meeting. Committement not needed to attend.
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 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. 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 online Membership Application.
Kyol Che retreat Jan 4 - April 4 at Diamond Hill Monastery, Providence Zen Center. Kyol Che is a time of intensive group practice. Each year, Dharma Teachers and Zen practitioners from all over the world join Kyol Che to practice ‘together action’ to benefit all sentient beings. Prior retreat experience in the Kwan Um School of Zen is required to enter Kyol Che. One and two-day meditation retreats in KUSZ is recommended. Minimum one week participation necessary.
Precepts Ceremony April 5 2025 Buddha's Birthday, Providence Zen Center The Precepts ceremony for Buddha’s Birthday at PZC will be after lunch Saturday April 5th, 2025. Exact time to be determined. See link for more info and to apply.
Buddha’s Birthday Celebration Providence Zen Center April 5 & 6th Meet and get to know the sangha! Register in advance and join for either one or both days, Saturday begins with coffee hour at 9AM then ceremony in morning, precepts in afternoon and ends with evening activities. Book signing and Dharma talk and sitting with Zen Master Soeng Hyang Sunday. For more info and to register click link above.
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. Zen Master Bobby will do a book signing on April 5th and 6th at PZC.
KWan UM WorldwidE
Events at Sister Sanghas