Our Practice
New York Zen Community for Dōgen Study
offers daily, weekly, monthly, and special programs.
All Our Programs are Offered Free of Charge
Participation in Zazen programs is open to all.
Study Programs are recorded and will be posted online as they become available .
To participate in Study Programs and Special Events in real time, kindly reach out via email at: info@nyzcfordogenstudy.org
Ango (Intensive Practice Period)
Summer Ango: April 14th - July 15th
Winter Ango: October 14-January 15
The tradition of intensifying practice and study during three spring and summer months dates back to the days of Gōtama Buddha when India’s rainy season made travel hazardous, and monks gathered together in one place to practice. In Japan this tradition was extended to include the snowy, cold winter months.
Our Ango period of intensifying practice and study features many opportunities and programs for practice and study in addition to the continuation of ongoing lecture series and sangha events.
ZAZEN
Morning Zazen
Monday - Friday
7:00 am: Kentan Gyōkō begins.
7:10 am: Opening bells.
8:00 am: Chanting of Takkesage M, W, F and Verse of the Robe on T, Th
After Zazen, we gather to read from Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Zuimonki.
On days ending in 4 or 9, we come together for an abreviated morning service, Ryaku-Chōka.
Monthly Zazenkai
Each month, we dedicate a day to deepening our shikantaza practice in silence, alternating between several periods of Zazen and Kinhin. Participants are encouraged to join for the entire day or any part of it.
Saturday from 8:00 am – 5:30 pm EST (14:00 - 23:00 CET)
February OFF
March 14
April 4
May 2
June 6 (half day)
July 11
Sesshin in the City
Every Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter we pause to enjoy 3-days of sustained shikantaza practice. Sometimes we stay at near-by retreat centers and other times we hold sesshin right where we are in New York City. We call these "Sesshin in the City" and from Friday evenings until 11:00 am Sunday we meet both on zoom and in person (at Catherine's newly renovated Zendo) for Zazen and Kinhin. There are breaks for meals and personal time and everyone is encouraged to participate in only as many periods of Zazen as they would like.
Spring 2026: March 6 - 8
Fall 2026: TBA
STUDY PROGRAMS
Monday Lecture Series:
Following Kyoto Anti-ji tradition, February is a reduced schedule month.
The Monday Lecture Series will resume during Summer Ango beginning April 20, 2026.
Wednesday Lecture Series: The Lotus Sutra
Kannon-gyō (Avalokiteśvara Sūtra)
Ongoing lectures on the Lotus Sūtra continue throughout the month of February despite our reduced schedule.
The Lotus Sutra is one of the most influential Mahāyāna sūtras and its 25th chapter - Kannon-gyō is widely revered.
Dōgen was deeply influenced by this sūtra and quoted it throughout his writings. In this lecture series, Rev. Koyama refers to commentaries by Sawaki Rōshi, Uchiyama Rōshi, and others to explain how Dōgen understood this sūtra and why he cherished it.
Wednesdays from 12:30 pm- 2:00 pm (EST) (18:30 - 20:00 CET)
February 4, 11,18, 25
March 4, 11, 18, 25
April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
May 6,13, 20, 27
June 17, 24
July 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
Monthly Study Intensive: The Flower Adornment Sūtra
Avatamsaka Sūtra
This sūtra is vast and exuberant, ushering readers into an awe-inspiring cosmic celebration of Dharma. It is about our path as bodhisattvas and it is as inspiring today as it was for Way Seekers centuries ago.
Based on the new three-volume translation of “The Avatamsaka Sūtra: An Annotated Translation of The Avatamsaka Sūtra” translated by Bhikshu Dharmamitra.
published by Kalavinka Press.
Saturdays from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM EST (15:00 - 21:00 CET)
February (off)
March 21
April 11
May 9
June 20
July 18
New Study Opportunities for Sangha Members
Beginning in February 2026, all sangha members are invited to take part in a variety of small, informal classes exploring primary Buddhist texts on Zoom, in real time. These classes are intended to be small and intimate -- more like tutoring sessions than formal lectures -- allowing Rev. Koyama to respond directly to individual questions and areas of interest. In this way, he hopes to support ongoing dharma study while in-person meetings remain difficult due to his health.
.
In these small classes, we continue delving deeply into Dōgen’s principal writings as well as primary texts from Ancient Buddhism (Pali Canon), Early Mahāyāna Buddhism, and Tang and Song dynasty China.
Here is the current schedule and the subjects we will be studying:
Mondays
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm (US EST) - 18:30 - 20:00 (Central European Time)
Koan Study from the Book of Serenity - Shōyō-roku
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (US EST) - 8:30 am - 10:00 am (Japan Time)
Early Buddhism (Pali Canon). We are currently studying the Buddha's last journey and death as depicted in the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta. Comparisons will also be made with the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra.
Wednesdays
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm (US EST) - 18:30 - 20:00 (Central European Time)
The Lotus Sutra, Chapter 25 - Kannon-gyō. This is an ongoing real-time lecture series on Wednesdays.
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (US EST) - 8:30 am - 10:00 am (Japan Time)
The Flower Adornment Sutra – Avatamsaka Sutra. This is an ongoing lectures series offered during our Monthly Study Intensives, but we will be recording additional lectures at this time as well.
Thursdays
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm (US EST) - 18:30 - 20:00 (Central European Time)
Dōgen Study - Introductory to Intermediate level. We are currently working on new translations of Hōkyō-ki into English and French and recording new lectures. [Future topics in this time slot will include Dōgen’s understanding of the precepts and a new commentary on Zuimonki based on your questions.]
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (US EST) - 8:30 am - 10:00 am (Japan Time)
Dōgen Study – Advanced. Preparations are underway to begin recording lectures on selected fascicles of Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō beginning with Bendowa.
Feel free to peek in and sample any of these classes and attend those that interest to you.
Issan will log in approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of classes to answer questions or chat.
For those unable to attend these classes in real time, all will be recorded and posted on this Website and on our Dōgen Study Library YouTube Channel. Many past lectures are already available for those who want to catch up.
If you have any questions, please send us email at: info@nyzcfordogenstudy.org
Monthly Q & A (Informal Mondō)
SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Monthly Q & A (Informal Mondō)
Open Mondō is an opportunity to ask questions and engage in dialogues with a teacher about real life situations and immediate concerns rather than academic issues. Our style of mondō is relaxed and informal.
Questions can be asked in real time when we meet on zoom or in person, or they can be sent to Rev. Koyama in advance by email.
Saturdays from 10:00 am - 11:30 am US EST (16:00 - 17:30 CET)
February (off)
March 28
April 18
May 16
June 27
July 25
Nyohō-e Sewing Circle (Fukuden-kai)
Each month, we gather to sew Buddhist robes. Our Nyohō-e tradition is inspired by Sawaki Kōdō Rōshi’s teachings and we hope to preserve this ancient meditative practice and make it understandable and accessible.
Friday from 6:00 pm-8:00 pm EST
February 20
March 27
April 17
May 15
June 26
July 24
In August and February, we observe a reduced practice schedule.
Rev. Issan Koyama’s Travel Schedule
Cincinnati April 2026
Bloomington Indiana June 2026
Japan: 2026 Fall/Winter