March 13, 2023
Dokusan is a one-to-one teaching encounter in private given at this center by a fully authorized Zen teacher — either Sensei John Pulleyn or Sensei Dhara Kowal. It is open to those who have become members of the Center. Dokusan is geared to matters of practice in the narrow sense of the word (e.g., zazen), but…
March 8, 2023
To express interest in any of the upcoming Sangha Hikes, please complete this form: https://rzc.breezechms.com/form/511b50 Mendon Ponds, Sunday, October 22 Join us for a hike at Mendon Ponds. We will be hiking an easy, dog-friendly 2-mile loop around Devil’s Bathtub. You can meet at 11:30 am at the Zen Center (7 Arnold Park) to carpool,…
March 6, 2023
Join our host, Jake Langendorfer for Buffalo at Philadelphia. We’ll be watching the game in the library on the 3rd floor of 5 Arnold Park at 7 p.m. Come to the front door and ring the doorbell. You can look forward to pizza and non-alcoholic beer.
February 28, 2023
Sesshins (Zen meditation retreats held in silence and seclusion) are offered about once a month at the Rochester Zen Center. They vary in length from two to seven days.
What to Know Before Applying to Sesshin
Sesshins are rigorous, demanding a great deal of the sitter….
February 28, 2023
A Sangha Engagement Online Program Dharma Reflections takes place the third Sunday of each month from 1:00 to 2:15pm Eastern on Zoom. Longtime RZC member Larry McSpadden leads friendly discussions, suitable for newcomers and established practitioners alike, on short selections of Buddhist writings and teachings. If you’re interested in attending DR meetings or need more…
February 19, 2023
The next Dharma talk will be delivered by Ven. Trueman Taylor after the usual morning sitting on Sunday, March 24. Here, at the Rochester Zen Center, a Dharma Talk is a talk on some aspect of the Buddhist teachings from a Zen perspective given by a senior student. You may join us in-person in the…
February 19, 2023
The Rochester Zen Center Youth and Family Program (affectionately called ‘Zen Kids’) meets on select Sundays from 8:30-10:30 am. We welcome children of all ages to our Youth Sundays, and families are invited to stay for our community brunch afterwards. Since we anticipate a wide range of ages, please RSVP Chris Maley (cmaley2@gmail.com) by Thursday evening…
February 19, 2023
Teisho, (pronounced “TAY-show”), is a formal (though largely extemporaneous) commentary given at Rochester Zen Center by either Sensei Dhara Kowal or Sensei John Pulleyn while facing the altar. In sesshin it is usually on a koan or other Zen text, whereas outside sesshin it may be on a non-Zen article or book. A teisho is…
February 19, 2023
“Youth Night in the Zendo” (for children 9 years+) is held weekly on Wednesdays at 6-7pm except during sesshin or when the Center is closed. We gather in the link or in the dining room before heading into the zendo. The general structure is: three rounds of zazen divided over 30 minutes, and then 30…
February 13, 2023
Daily sittings are great, but an extended sitting is a chance to wade further into the waters of zazen. You’ll get a break from stress, a taste of a sesshin day, and maybe even a new perspective on your mind and life. Besides the usual sitting that will run from 8:30 to around 10:30, there…