You meditate to see reality clearly. Hear, see, think, feel, and act clearly. This is Zen practice. To see clearly means to see things as they are, not to live in some dream or fairy tale, not to create wishful scenarios. The role of a Zen teacher is to wake people up from sleep.

        ...Zen Master Bon Shim

WEEKLY UPDATE

MON 9 FEBRUARY - SUN 15 FEBRUARY 2026

TWO-DAY RETREAT  

SAT & SUN 14-15 FEBRUARY

LED BY ZEN MASTER BON SHIM

Registration now closed!

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.

Special Programs

Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups

SPECIAL PROGRAM

Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups

TUESDAY COMMUNITY DINNER at 5:30 PM Come early and join us for dinner with a $10 suggested donation followed by chanting at 6:30 prior to the standard Tuesday Long Sitting.

TUESDAY LONG SITTING & KONG-AN INTERVIEWS with Colin Beavan, JDPSN

TUESDAY 10 FEBRUARY 7:30-9:30PM

Join URL: Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID 858 3084 3540

There will be three sitting periods of 30 mins each with 10 mins break in between periods. You may join the Zoom meeting at 7:25-7:30 PM, 8:00-8:10 PM or 8:40-8:50 PM. If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY INITIATIVE / Unpacking Whiteness

WEDNESDAY 18 FEBRUARY 8:15-9:15 PM

Description: CZC provides safe spaces in which to share and work through sensitive topics for spiritual growth.

Please Note: This group continues to meet over Zoom on the 1st and 3rd weeks of the month. The BIPOC group is temporarily paused, we will notify you when it resumes meeting.

Join URL: SJDI / 817 4548 4299

SOCIAL JUSTICE AND DIVERSITY INITIATIVE/ BIPOC GROUP

WEDNESDAY 4 MARCH  5:00PM-6:30PM  

(1st Wednesday of the month on Zoom)

Meeting ID: 884 2813 9726

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 typical practice group, we enjoy a mix of sitting meditation, walking meditation, readings, and dharma sharing about our experiences and practice in everyday life. 

To learn more about our sangha, please e-mail kfoo (kfoo@wpi.edu). 

MEDITATION INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS

THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 6:45-7:25 PM*

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.

DHARMA TALK

THURSDAY 12 FEBRUARY 7:30 PM

Join URL: Dharma Talk / Meeting ID 876 2455 3876

ZEN MASTER BON SHIM will answer questions after an introductory talk by BOBBY YRIBARREN, DTIT

Zen Master Bon Shim (Aleksandra Porter) is a Co-Guiding Teacher of CZC when she is in residence. She also serves as the guiding teacher of Zen centers in Poland and Barcelona, Spain. Zen Master Bon Shim continues to live at the Warsaw Zen Center, where she began training and served as Abbot for many years. She met Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1978, received Inka (permission to teach kong-ans) from him in 1992 and in 2006 received transmission from Zen Master Wu Bong. She has been traveling and teaching in centers in Europe, Korea and the United States for 40 years and has two adult sons and two grandchildren. She will be in residence at Cambridge Zen Center from February through March 6, 2026.

 Bobby Yribarren is a Dharma Teacher in Training in the Kwan Um School of Zen and has been a resident of CZC since 2019. He served as our Kitchenmaster, Housemaster and Workmaster for the past three years and continues as our Michelin star Kitchenmaster. He is an avid runner and swimmer from Fresno, California. He holds a degree in communication from Fresno Pacific and a master’s in communication from the University of the Pacific.

SUNDAY LONG SITTING & CONSULTING INTERVIEWS -CANCELLED DUE TO YMJJ

Sunday 15 FEBRUARY 9:00-11:30 AM

Join Zoom URL: Sun Long Sitting / Meeting ID 816 7973 3521

Note: There will be two sitting periods of 30 mins each with 10 mins break in between periods. You may join the Zoom meeting at 9:00 AM or 9:30-9:40 AM. If new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms. Join us for refreshments after the siting.

YOUNG ZEN SUNDAY 15 FEBRUARY - CANCELLED DUE TO YMJJ

Sundays 12:30 - 1:30 PM

Description: Come to the center to begin or deepen your meditation practice in community with other students and young adults. Each session includes sitting and walking meditation, a check-in, and a short talk or reading about how to integrate Zen practice into everyday life. You are also welcome to join our PM Zen Meditation Practice (see below). If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.

Providence Zen Center’s registration for Winter Kyol Che 2026 is still open! Register for your spot today: https://providencezen.org/kyol-che

Schedule of Teachers Leading Kyol Che
Week 8: February 21-28 | Kwan Haeng Sunim JDPSN (Intensive Week)
Week 9: February 28-Mar 7 | Rebecca Otte JDPSN
Week 10: March 7-14 | Agata Hae In JDPSN
Week 11: March 14-21 |
Week 12: March 21-28 | Dyan Eagles, JDPSN

BUDDHA’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION AT PZC MARCH 28-29 2026

PRECEPTS MARCH 28 AT 3:00 PM

This event is in person and live on Zoom! Connect with fellow sangha members and participate in ceremonies. More info in the link.

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.

KWan UM WorldwidE

Events at Sister Sanghas