MZMC classes support and encourage meditative practice, compassion, and joyful living. Our course curriculum provides structured support for exploration of Buddhist teachings to clarify the fundamental questions of our lives. On this page, you will find information about:
We offer scholarships for all our classes, retreats, and events to lower accessibility barriers to people of color, members of other historically marginalized communities, and those who would be prevented from participating by financial need. Look for the scholarship rate and scholarship supporter rate listed below the description of each class. Click here to find out more about scholarships.
- Beginning Classes
- Foundations of Practice Classes
- Practice Periods
- Study Groups
- Advanced Classes
- One-to-one Teacher Meetings
We offer scholarships for all our classes, retreats, and events to lower accessibility barriers to people of color, members of other historically marginalized communities, and those who would be prevented from participating by financial need. Look for the scholarship rate and scholarship supporter rate listed below the description of each class. Click here to find out more about scholarships.
Introduction to Zen MeditationFor those who are curious about meditation, or would like to test the waters, Introduction to Zen Meditation is an introductory series of talks offered each week. Each session includes meditation instruction and teaching on how meditation and Zen relate to daily life.
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Basic Zen Forms and EtiquetteWould you like to become familiar with the basics of traditional Zen forms: bows, entries and exits, walking meditation, etc? This offering is designed for anyone who'd like an overview of forms to become more familiar and comfortable joining us for morning zazen or one of our sesshins.
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Foundations of Practice
Four Noble Truths: How do we walk the path from suffering to peace?
with Ted O'Toole
Offered online and in-person
Wednesdays, August 18 – September 15
7:15 – 8:45 pm
$110 members | $135 nonmembers | $50 scholarship | $140 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
The first and most fundamental teaching of the Buddha is the Middle Way: the alleviation of suffering through compassionate action, meditation and mindful living. The Four Noble Truths of dissatisfaction, its cause, its cessation, and the path to end it explain how and why to practice this Middle Way. In this class we will investigate how suffering is caused by desire and aversion, by wanting things to be other than how they are, and how we can follow the Buddhist Eightfold Path to move towards a deep and quiet joy.
with Ted O'Toole
Offered online and in-person
Wednesdays, August 18 – September 15
7:15 – 8:45 pm
$110 members | $135 nonmembers | $50 scholarship | $140 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
The first and most fundamental teaching of the Buddha is the Middle Way: the alleviation of suffering through compassionate action, meditation and mindful living. The Four Noble Truths of dissatisfaction, its cause, its cessation, and the path to end it explain how and why to practice this Middle Way. In this class we will investigate how suffering is caused by desire and aversion, by wanting things to be other than how they are, and how we can follow the Buddhist Eightfold Path to move towards a deep and quiet joy.
Practice Periods
Practice Periods are an integral part of traditional Buddhism, and trace their origins back to the historical Buddha Shakyamuni, when the nuns and monks would take time during the monsoon seasons of India to devote themselves to intensified meditation, study, and community building.
Participants are expected to attend the eight weekly meetings (Wednesday evenings from 7:15 – 8:45 pm OR Thursday mornings from 7:30 – 9:00 am), commit to regular zazen practice, attend at least one day of retreat (for which there is an additional cost) and one work practice day, read the assigned text(s), and have regular meetings with an assigned practice partner.
Fall Practice Period with Tim Burkett: Topic TBA
Wednesday evenings, September 29 – November 17, 7:15 – 8:45 pm.
(There is also a morning option for those who cannot attend Wednesday evenings: Thursday mornings September 30 – November 18, 7:30 – 9:00 am.)
$145 members | $180 nonmembers | $70 scholarship | $180 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
Participants are expected to attend the eight weekly meetings (Wednesday evenings from 7:15 – 8:45 pm OR Thursday mornings from 7:30 – 9:00 am), commit to regular zazen practice, attend at least one day of retreat (for which there is an additional cost) and one work practice day, read the assigned text(s), and have regular meetings with an assigned practice partner.
Fall Practice Period with Tim Burkett: Topic TBA
Wednesday evenings, September 29 – November 17, 7:15 – 8:45 pm.
(There is also a morning option for those who cannot attend Wednesday evenings: Thursday mornings September 30 – November 18, 7:30 – 9:00 am.)
$145 members | $180 nonmembers | $70 scholarship | $180 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
Morning Study Groups
.These are advanced study groups open to those who have been in a previous study group at MZMC or by permission of the teachers.
Fall Morning Study Group with Ben Connelly
The Lankavatara Sutra
Tuesdays, September 7, 21, October 5, 19, November 9, 16, 7:30 – 9:00 am
$110 members | $135 nonmembers | $50 scholarship | $140 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
The Lankavatara Sutra is here for liberation of the mind, the heart, and all beings. The founders of Zen were sometimes known as Lankavatara masters due to their celebration of this Mahayana Sutra, which brings together Yogacara, Mind-Only, and Buddha Nature teachings into a potent mix that profoundly influenced East Asian Buddhism. This study group is created for folks with practice and Dharma study experience and will emphasize group investigation of the text, bringing its Dharma into daily life, and teachings on how to read classic Buddhist literature. Attendees should bring a copy of the book Lankavatara Sutra: Translation and Commentary by Red Pine to the first meeting.
Fall Morning Study Group with Ben Connelly
The Lankavatara Sutra
Tuesdays, September 7, 21, October 5, 19, November 9, 16, 7:30 – 9:00 am
$110 members | $135 nonmembers | $50 scholarship | $140 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
The Lankavatara Sutra is here for liberation of the mind, the heart, and all beings. The founders of Zen were sometimes known as Lankavatara masters due to their celebration of this Mahayana Sutra, which brings together Yogacara, Mind-Only, and Buddha Nature teachings into a potent mix that profoundly influenced East Asian Buddhism. This study group is created for folks with practice and Dharma study experience and will emphasize group investigation of the text, bringing its Dharma into daily life, and teachings on how to read classic Buddhist literature. Attendees should bring a copy of the book Lankavatara Sutra: Translation and Commentary by Red Pine to the first meeting.
Advanced Classes
Exploring the Vimalakirti Sutra
online with Tim Burkett
Wednesdays, July 7 – August 11
7:15 – 8:45 pm
$110 members | $135 nonmembers | $50 scholarship | $140 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
In exploring the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra, we have an opportunity to honor Vimalakirti's promise. And what is that promise? In simple terms, Vimalakirti teaches that marrying, having children, pursuing a career and other features of “normal” life need not inhibit our ability to tap into and manifest a peaceful joy. The text for this class will be The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture by Robert Thurman. We'll learn how these teachings vivify, subvert, and sanctify our lives—all at the same time.
During this COVID time, we have been renovating and adding on to our building. We hope to open again on August 8, barring any unforeseen issues. It is possible the last class or two could be in our building. In that case, you will still have the option of participating online.
online with Tim Burkett
Wednesdays, July 7 – August 11
7:15 – 8:45 pm
$110 members | $135 nonmembers | $50 scholarship | $140 scholarship supporter
Find out more about scholarships.
Please register five days in advance.
Register
In exploring the Vimalakirti Nirdesa Sutra, we have an opportunity to honor Vimalakirti's promise. And what is that promise? In simple terms, Vimalakirti teaches that marrying, having children, pursuing a career and other features of “normal” life need not inhibit our ability to tap into and manifest a peaceful joy. The text for this class will be The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti: A Mahayana Scripture by Robert Thurman. We'll learn how these teachings vivify, subvert, and sanctify our lives—all at the same time.
During this COVID time, we have been renovating and adding on to our building. We hope to open again on August 8, barring any unforeseen issues. It is possible the last class or two could be in our building. In that case, you will still have the option of participating online.
One-to-one Meetings (Dokusan and Practice Meetings)
Do you have questions about Zen? Do you want advice about establishing or maintaining a meditation practice? Does sitting present you with physical challenges? Are you struggling to apply your practice in your daily life? Do you wonder if you're really ready to do a retreat?
Zen Center offers meetings with experienced Zen teachers to address these kinds of questions. Teachers at Zen Center very much enjoy getting to know other Zen practitioners and encouraging others in their practice. Two kinds of meetings are offered:
If you would like to meet with a teacher, contact the office to arrange a time. You may ask for a specific teacher or have one assigned to you.
Zen Center offers meetings with experienced Zen teachers to address these kinds of questions. Teachers at Zen Center very much enjoy getting to know other Zen practitioners and encouraging others in their practice. Two kinds of meetings are offered:
- Dokusan is a meeting with Guiding Teacher Ted O'Toole, or a Senior Teacher (Tim Burkett, Ben Connelly, Bussho Lahn, and Susan Nelson). Ted O'Toole meets in dokusan with Zen Center members; the Senior Teachers meet with both members and non-members.
- Practice Meetings are opportunities to meet with the Center's teachers. Anyone, members or non-members, can sign up for practice meetings.
If you would like to meet with a teacher, contact the office to arrange a time. You may ask for a specific teacher or have one assigned to you.
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