IT'S ALL ORDINARY

Don't get too attached to this teaching of correct situation, relationship and function.  It's meant to be a teaching tool for something really quite ordinary: "How can I be kind in this moment?" People get these openings, moments of enlightenment, from their everyday effort, when they find their correct relationship to situations that arise. When they have some direction with what they're doing that day and find their function in every moment, that's when they're wide open to have an aha experience.  Then we begin to see every moment in life as an opportunity.  That's how we make extraordinary from the ordinary.  And that makes the ordinary extraordinary, right?

                          .....Zen Master SOENG HYANG

WEEKLY UPDATE

MON SEPT 1 - SUN SEPT 7 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 - FRIDAY 5 SEPTEMBER 7:30-8:30PM

Zen Master SOENG HYANG, Barbara Rhodes will answer questions in person after an introductory talk by Dyan Eagles, JDPSN

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 LONG SITTING

TUESDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 7:30-9:30 PM

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

Barbara Feldman, SDT will offer CONSULTING Interviews. There will be three sitting periods of 30 minutes.

- 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 3 SEPTEMBER 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 4 SEPTEMBER 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.

SUNDAY LONG SITTING - CANCELLED DUE TO YMJJ RETREAT

SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 9:00-11:30 AM 

Meeting ID 816 7973 3521

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.

YOUNG ZEN - CANCELLED DUE TO YMJJ RETREAT

SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER 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.

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