Welcome!We welcome all who want to learn more about Zen Buddhist meditation. Our vibrant community is committed to Zen practice and teachings, and offers daily sitting meditation, weekly classes and lectures, and monthly intensive meditation retreats. Our Center is located on the eastern shore of Lake Calhoun in south Minneapolis. People from all over the region come to here to listen to talks by teachers, attend classes and workshops, participate in retreats, attend services, and, most importantly, to do sitting meditation (zazen). Are you new to Meditation, Zen Buddhism, or the Center?A good place to begin would be Introduction to Zen Meditation on Sunday mornings, or the Tuesday Night Gathering. Each session includes meditation instruction and teaching on how meditation and Zen relate to daily life. For Introduction to Zen Meditation join us any Sunday and then return the next three Sundays to complete the four-week cycle. (For those months that have a fifth Sunday, a fifth talk is offered. It is considered an "optional" part of the cycle.) The four parts are not sequential, so you may attend them in any order. You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you like, but attend all four for the best overview. These classes are open to all with no pre-registration necessary. Admission is first come, first served, and the class often fills. We advise that you come a few minutes early. Those who can't attend the Introduction generally stay and enjoy the Sunday talk instead. Donations are gratefully accepted. The class meets every Sunday from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Participants are welcome to stay for tea and social hour at 11:00. Tuesday Night Gathering is a weekly opportunity to come together for meditation and Zen teaching. Newcomers and experienced practitioners alike are invited and encouraged to participate. This gathering is designed to provide a regular weekly cornerstone for your practice. Each session includes guided meditation, a brief dharma talk, silent meditation, and an opportunity for questions and discussion. Tuesday Night Gatherings take place every Tuesday 7:15 – 8:30 p.m. If you are visiting MZMC to fulfill a class requirement, we suggest attending our Sunday morning lecture at 10 a.m. You may also contact our office to set up a visit. Sunday MorningsSunday mornings are a good time to become familiar with the MZMC community. Sunday Morning Schedule The Sunday talks provide continued learning about Zen Buddhism and offer you a chance to know the teachers more fully. You are invited to join us for any part of the morning schedule. We hope to see you then! 9:10 Sitting Meditation Click here to listen to Sunday Talks online 
Subscribe to our Sunday Talks podcast using iTunes. 
To subscribe to our Sunday Talks podcast with another service, use this rss feed:http://mnzencenter.org/audio/rss.xml May EventsHalf-day Sesshin This brief immersion in the traditional sesshin schedule is a good opportunity to become familiar with the forms, stay in practice, or brush up after some time away. This morning includes an orientation, zazen, kinhin (walking meditation), liturgy, a formal vegetarian breakfast using oryoki bowls, and one-to-one meetings with the teacher. Dharma Family Sundays June EventsGuest Teacher Dokai Georgesen Dokai Georgesen is the resident head teacher of Hokyoji Zen Practice Community. He began his study of Zen Buddhism at Minnesota Zen Meditation Center under the direction of Dainin Katagiri Roshi in 1974. He spent two years on pilgrimage studying Buddhism in India and Japan, and upon his return in 1982 he lived at Hokyoji until his ordination in 1984. In 1989 he received Dharma Transmission from Katagiri Roshi, and since then he has made several trips to Japan for study under the late Ikko Narasaki Roshi, Tsugen Narasaki Roshi and the late Taizan Maezumi Roshi. He has also had the opportunity to study at Plum Village in France under the direction of Thich Nhat Hanh. He has been residing at Hokyoji since June, 2003. June Retreat This five-day retreat is contemporary in style while maintaining a deep immersion in meditation and silence. The retreat includes sitting and walking meditation, daily dharma talks, work practice, one-to-one meetings with the teachers, and buffet-style vegetarian meals. All participants should attend the orientation on Tuesday, June 5. Dharma Family Sundays Save the Date for Guest Teacher Kyoki RobertsSaturday and Sunday, August 25 and 26 We are pleased to welcome Kyoki Roberts to MZMC this summer. She will offer a workshop on Saturday and give the Sunday talk. Kyoki is Head Teacher at Zen Center of Pittsburgh and director of An Olive Branch, a facilitation and mediation service for spiritual communities and other nonprofits. More information will be available soon on the website. |
Sunday Talk: Sunday, June 3, 10 a.m.
Our mission is to help people experience a deep and quiet joy – a joy that arises whenever we are fully engaged in the work or play of this moment.