Our Practice
New York Zen Community for Dōgen Study offers daily, weekly, monthly, and special programs. Our programs are offered free of charge
-
We are happy to announce that all lectures during the fall/winter 2024/25 season will be recorded and in the Spring of 2025 will made available online for everyone free of charge .
-
Beginning fall 2024, real-time participation in all Study Programs will only be open to sangha members who are regularly practicing shikantaza zazen with us or with sanghas directly under the lineage of Sawaki-Uchiyama-Okumura & Suzuki S. - Katagiri
-
If you wish to join us, please email a brief history of your Buddhist practice and study background to info@nyzcfordogenstudy.org and an orientation meeting can be arranged.
*Please note schedules are set in the U.S. Eastern Standard Time. Some American Federal holidays are observed when no zazen or lecture programs are offered. For details see calendar below.
Morning Zazen
We sit shikantaza online, Mon-Fri mornings year round, except during holidays.
To join please contact us .
All are welcomed. Beginner instruction is available.
Morning Zazen: Mondays to Fridays 7:10 am ~ 8:00 am
-
7:00 am Kentan Gyōkō starts , (please be seated before).
-
7:10 am Opening bell at .
-
8:00 am chant Takkesage (Mon. Wed. & Fri.), or Verse of the Robe (Tue. & Thu.)
Reading from Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō Zuimonki
-
after morning zazen, we will read (without discussion) one section of Zuimonki by Okumura Roshi
On days of 4 and 9, when Rev. Koyama is in New York, instead of reading from Zuimonki, there is a short morning service: Ryaku-Chōka follows Zazen at 8:10 am
Monthly Zazenkai
Each month we deepen our shikantaza practice with a day of silence, alternating sitting multiple periods of zazen with kinhin. Zazenkai is offered online with some local sites available for in-person practice. Participants can join for all or part of the day.
8:00 am – 5:30 pm US EST on:
October 5, 2024
November 16, 2024
December 7, 2024
January 11, 2025
Introduction to Dōgen Study
Beginning September 2024, there will be a new introductory class for all those interested in the study programs offered by Rev. Issan Koyama and the New York Zen Community for Dōgen Study. Intended for seasoned practitioners and beginners alike, this class will examine our lineage, our practice and our study of Buddhist texts.
The class will consist of four 90-minute sections and will be mandatory for all those wishing to attend Rev. Koyama's study programs in real- time. Dates: TBD February and August 2025
Monthly Study Intensive
Avatamsaka Sutra
(The Flower Adornment Sutra)
Consult Calendar for changes to programming
Based on the new three-volume translation of
“The Avatamsaka Sutra: An Annotated Translation of The Avatamsaka Sutra”
Translated by Bhikshu Dharmamitra.
Published by Kalavinka Press.
January 18 All Day Study
(The Flower Adornment Sutra)
Central European time: 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
US Eastern Daylight time: 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Lecture Series
Consult Calendar for changes to programming
Especially conceived for all those living in European time zones who are currently working towards ordination in the Sōtō Zen School of Japan, as well as for anyone else devoted to studying, maintaining and passing on Dōgen’s teachings, Rev. Issan Koyama is offering a new series of lectures on zoom diving deeply into key fascicles of Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō.
Though this lecture series is scheduled to foster participation of European practitioners, all lectures will be offered in English.
Fascicle #31 Shoaku Makusa (Do No Evil)
In response to special requests from his European students asking how Dharma can help us understand and deal with the perennial problem of human evil, Rev. Koyama will begin by examining Shōbōgenzō fascicle #31 Shoaku Makusa (Do No Evil).
In a world afflicted by global conflicts, horrific wars and intractable divisiveness, it is especially meaningful to look into how Dōgen addressed questions about good and evil.
Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Fascicle #31 Shoaku Makusa (Do No Evil)
Wednesdays 2024: Sept 4, 11, 18
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Central European time
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm EST in the US.
*Please note From October through November 2024 Rev. Koyama's travel will affect the schedule and class will take place
Wednesdays 2024: October 9, 16 November 6, 13, 20, 27
10:30 am - 12:00 pm Central European time
4:30 am - 6:00 am EST in the US.
Wednesdays 2025: January 8, 15, 22, 29
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Central European time
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm EST in the US.
Shōbōgenzō Kokyō (Old Mirror) and both parts of Gyōji (Sustained Practice).
Future lectures to be announced
Winter Ango Series
Hōkyō-ki
Dōgen’s personal notes on his dialogues with Nyojō Zenji.
begins on November 4*, 2024 and will conclude January 15, 2025
By closely examining Dōgen’s formative years, we continue to create a solid foundation for understanding Dōgen’s teaching, enabling us to read Shōbōgenzō more fluidly
Mondays 2024-2025 at: 6:30 pm -8:00 pm US EST
November 4, 11, 18, 25
December 9, 23
January 6, 13
*Because of Rev. Koyama's travel schedule, class begins November 4 instead of October 15.
Rev. Issan Koyama's Travel
-
Japan: October1 - December 17, 2024
-
Europe: mid February-March 8, 2025 details TBD
Our traveling affects our program schedule. Please visit our calendar for the updated schedule information