How do you know what your correct relationship is to any situation? As painful as it might be, sometimes the correct relationship is to deal with things you have avoided and perhaps let go of things that you're very attached to. Being able to look at your difficult relationships and ask three things: "How is it just now? What am I? What is this?"
...Zen Master Soeng Hyang, Barbara Rhodes from COMPOSTING OUR KARMA
WEEKLY UPDATE
MON 18 AUGUST - SUN 24 AUGUST 2025
To join in person, visit the Guidelines for our health and safety protocols. All times are Eastern Standard Time.
Special Programs
Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups
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TWO-DAY YMJJ RETREAT at CZC
LED BY ZEN MASTER SOENG HYANG, BOBBY RHODES, SEPT 6 & 7 Registration closes September 4th.
YONG MAENG JONG JIN (YMJJ) MEANS “TO LEAP LIKE A TIGER WHILE SITTING.” RETREATS ARE AN OPPORTUNITY TO STRENGTHEN OUR PRACTICE, TO PERCEIVE MORE CLEARLY AND ACT FROM OUR NATURAL COMPASSION AND WISDOM.
Zen Master Soeng Hyang (Barbara Rhodes) is the School Zen Master of the Kwan Um School of Zen. She received dharma transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn on October 10, 1992. She was one of Zen Master Seung Sahn's first American students and studied with him beginning in 1972. She was given inka in 1977. A registered nurse since 1969, she worked in hospice care. She helped found Providence Zen Center, and lived there for seventeen years, serving in a number of administrative capacities. Zen Master Soeng Hyang has a daughter and two grandchildren and lives with her wife Mary, in California.
DHARMA TALK - THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 7:30-8:30PM
Zen Master Bon Yeon, Jane Dobisz will answer questions in person after an introductory talk by Theodore Locke.
Zen Master Bon Yeon (Jane McLaughlin-Dobisz) is our Guiding Teacher at Cambridge Zen Center since 1993. She received inka (authorization to teach) in 1991, and transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn to become a Zen Master in 2000. Before training in the Kwan Um School of Zen, she spent several years in the Tibetan and the Vipassana traditions. Zen Master Bon Yeon has completed and led many Kyol Che 90 day retreats in the US, Europe, and Korea, and taught around the world. She is an editor of The Whole World Is A Single Flower, a collection of kong-ans by Zen Master Seung Sahn. She is also the author of One Hundred Days of Solitude: Losing Myself and Finding Grace on a Zen Retreat, which chronicles a one hundred-day solo meditation retreat in the winter woods of New England. She is a native of Rhode Island and lives in the Boston Area. She is married and has two grown children.
Theodore Locke holds 5 precepts in the Kwan Um School of Zen. He’s been practicing regularly at CZC for about 1 ½ years. He has a PhD in Philosophy and is currently a lecturer in Philosophy at UMass Boston for the past 2 years.
Join this event over Zoom: Meeting ID 876 2455 3876
Dharma talks give you an opportunity to ask questions you might have about Buddhism, Zen teachings, or the connection between Zen meditation and daily life. This event is followed by refreshments and social time.
TUESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER at 5:30 PM
Come early and join us for a delicious vegetarian dinner with a $10 suggested donation followed by chanting at 6:30PM prior to the standard Tuesday Long Sitting.
TUESDAY 19 AUGUST 7:30-9:30 PM
Join URL: Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID: 858 3084 3540
Jennifer Magrone, SDT will offer CONSULTING Interviews. There will be three sitting periods of 30 minutes.
* Note: interviews may begin at 7:00 pm.
- 7:30-8:00pm Sitting (interviews begin) - 8:00-8:10pm Walking
- 8:10-8:40pm Sitting - 8:40-8:50pm Walking
- 8:50-9:20pm Sitting - 9:20-9:30pm Heart Sutra, Great Dharani, 4 Great Vows
If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.
BIPOC
1st Wednesday of the month 5-6:30pm in person (SEPTEMBER 3RD)
This Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) practice group is a monthly gathering of self-identifying BIPOC practitioners that provides a safe place to meditate and explore contemplative practices. This sangha cultivates an environment that welcomes diverse voices and builds community. In a practice group, we enjoy a mix of sitting meditation, walking meditation, readings, and dharma sharing about our experiences and practice in everyday life.
We meet on the first Wednesday of the month from 5-6:30 PM. To learn more about our sangha, please e-mail kfoo (kfoo@wpi.edu).
UNPACKING WHITENESS /SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
WED 20 AUGUST 8:15PM - 9:15 PM on Zoom.
Meeting ID: 81745484299
(1st & 3rd Wednesdays on Zoom)
In these one hour meetings, we join together to talk about race and dharma practice, and examine how white privilege operates as we examine the question "What Am I?" The group is currently working with Composting Our Karma: Turning Confusion into Lessons for Awakening Our Innate Wisdom by Barbara Rhodes, Zen Master Soeng Hyang. We use three passages from the book followed by questions to guide our discussion. There is no need to purchase the book, the passages for discussion are posted in the zoom chat. We welcome new members - no experience necessary. Inquiries are presented and facilitated by Senior Dharma Teacher Jennifer Magrone, who brings over ten years of professional experience with addressing how bias and identity oppression operate. If you are curious - please join us!
MEDITATION INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS
THURSDAY 21 AUGUST 6:45-7:30PM
This introduction to meditation is offered weekly in person for those new to Cambridge Zen Center or meditation practice. Highly recommended for new students prior to attending a practice session. Your questions will be answered and you are welcome to repeat sessions. Meditation Instruction is in person.
ELDER ZEN
SATURDAY 23 AUGUST 11:00-12:30 AM
How does Zen Buddhist practice relate to our experiences of aging. Join us in a supportive community at the Cambridge Zen Center to explore this question through meditation and discussion. We will begin with 20 minutes of sitting meditation, followed by a group discussion of a pertinent topic … then refreshments! All are welcome, and instruction is available for people who are new to meditation.
SUNDAY 24 AUGUST 9:00-11:30 AM
Meeting ID 816 7973 3521
Zen Master Bon Shim will offer Kong-An Interviews over Zoom. You may join the Zoom meeting at 9:00 AM or 9:30-9:40 and 10:10-10:20 AM. The long sitting concludes with the Four Great Vows. The last Sunday and Tuesday of each month will feature zoom participants first for interviews.
CELEBRATION FOR NEW PRECEPTEES
SUNDAY 24 AUGUST 11:45 –12:30 PM
Join us in congratulating the six Cambridge Zen Center members who recently took precepts in the Kwan Um School of Zen. We will gather over refreshments following Sunday Long Sitting. All are welcome!
SUNDAY 24 AUGUST 12:30-1:30 PM
Begin or deepen your meditation practice in community with other students and young adults. Each session includes sitting meditation, a check-in, and then a short talk or reading about how to integrate Zen practice into everyday life followed by refreshments.
Regular Practice
Daily Sitting & Chanting
AM ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE
Bows 5:45 AM daily except Sunday
Chanting 6:10 AM daily except Tuesday and Sunday
Sitting 6:35 AM daily except on Tuesday and Sunday
Description: AM Meditation Practice in person consists of bows and the Morning Bell Chant followed by the Heart Sutra in English. There is a 30-minute period of sitting.
MID DAY ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE
Sitting 12:30 PM on Tuesday and Thursday for 30 minutes. There is no need to register, just ring the door bell for entrance 10 minutes beforehand.
PM ZEN MEDITATION PRACTICE
Special chanting 6:30 PM daily
Regular chanting 7:00 PM daily
Sitting 7:30 PM daily except on Thursday*
Description: PM Meditation Practice consists of a 35-minute period of sitting followed by a short reading concluding at 8:10 PM. Note: *On Tuesday evenings, join us for two sitting periods with interviews from 7:30 PM - 8:40PM. You may join the Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID 85830843540 Please join the meeting on time.
Upcoming & Ongoing
Events / News
Protect The Jewel We are so grateful for your support in keeping our doors open for 50 years! Please help us continue to serve the needs of the community for a long time to come by using any of the following ways to donate: click on the “Protect the Jewel” for GoFundMe; find Venmo@cambridgezencenter under “Czc Zen”; a new plate for credit card donations is near the wood stove, and a donation box is located in the Reception Room for cash or mail us a check to Cambridge Zen Center. We are a 501(c)(3) organization and our Tax ID is listed at the bottom of this page.
CZC Residency: If you have wanted to live in a practicing community, for either short or long-term, your opportunity awaits! Check out our residential requirements and for more information contact abbot@cambridgezen.org. Applications can be submitted online.
Membership is the most effective way to help the Cambridge Zen Center and receive discounts. When you join as a member, you also join the Kwan Um School of Zen, a worldwide community. Become a member today by completing this online Membership Application.
Online Sangha Events are also available at any sister sangha in the Kwan Um School of Zen Americas. See other opportunities in Europe and Asia, plus another calendar of KUOS events with schedules for online retreats and practice opportunities.
Composting Our Karma; Turning Confusion into Lessons for Awakening Our Innate Wisdom. A new book by our School Zen Master, Barbara Rhodes, Zen Master Soeng Hyang is out and is available for purchase at Shambhalla Publishers, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, at the CZC Book Store and at Providence Zen Center.
KWan UM WorldwidE
Events at Sister Sanghas