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 lectures are currently being recorded and in the Spring of 2025 will made available online to everyone free of charge .
-
Real-time participation in all Study Programs is open only 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 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, 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:
April 5, 2025
May 17, 2025
3 Day Sesshin
March 21-23, 2025
tentatively:
June 6-8
other dates TBD
Introduction to Dōgen Study
At the beginning of each Ango period, the New York Zen Community for Dōgen Study will offer an introductory, mandatory class for all those new to the teachings of Dōgen Zenji and are interested in attending in real-time, whether in person or remotely, the study programs offered by Rev. Issan Koyama. Intended for seasoned practitioners and beginners alike, this class will examine our lineage, our practice and our study of Buddhist texts.
Monthly Study Intensive
Avatamsaka Sutra
(The Flower Adornment Sutra)
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.
April 12 and June 14 All Day Study
(The Flower Adornment Sutra)
European Central Time : 3:00 PM - 9:00 PM
US Eastern time: 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Consult Calendar for changes to programming
Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō Lecture Series
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.
Dōgen’s Shōbōgenzō 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.
Wednesdays 2025: Please check the calendar for changes to the following schedule:
March 12, 19, 26
April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
May 7, 14, 21, 28
June 4, 11, 18
6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Central European time
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm EST in the US.
Future lectures like....
Shōbōgenzō Kokyō (Old Mirror) and both parts of Gyōji (Sustained Practice).
to be announced
Winter Ango Series
Hōkyō-ki
Dōgen’s personal notes on dialogues with Nyojō Zenji.
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
April 14, 21, 28
May 5, 12, 19
June 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 (check schedule for changes)
Rev. Issan Koyama's Travel
Europe: February 15-March 8, 2025