RESIDENTIAL ZEN TRAINING

Cambridge Zen Center is one the largest residential Zen communities outside Asia and our residents practice together every day of the year. We cook and eat healthy vegetarian food. We maintain the beautiful Zen center facility. We offer a warm welcome to visitors and guests.

Many residents work in the Boston area and maintain engaged relationships with the larger community. We offer Zoom streaming for mediation, retreats, talks and group meetings.

Zen Master Seung Sahn said that the practice of living in a Zen center is much like washing potatoes. In Korean Zen temples, potatoes get washed by putting them in a large pot filled with water. The water is stirred with a stick and the potatoes rub against each other, thus getting cleaned all together. If you are interested, please read our Temple Rules online.

In a residential Zen center, we get "cleaned" of our hindrances and mind-habits through daily meditation practice, and through living and working together. Through this intensive practice, we inevitably become more compassionate and mindful of ourselves and others.

There are two categories of residency: short-term (From 2 weeks up to 3 months) and long-term (over 3 months). For both short and long-term residency, there are requirements which you need to fulfill. You should begin by writing a note about your intentions to our Abbot.

When you are ready, you can submit an application for residency online.

CURRENT AVAILABILITY

• Rooms of various sizes in the Main Building, are available after acceptance.

• We have several apartments becoming available over the next few months.