We don't practice to get good things and avoid the bad things. We practice to attain how to use anything that appears. When good things come, we use them to help others; when bad things come, we use them to help others.
....Zen Master Dae Bong
PLEASE NOTE THAT YOUNG ZEN IS CANCELLED FOR THIS WEEK AND NEXT AND RESUMES ON NOVEMBER 15TH.
WEEKLY UPDATE
MON OCT 26 - SUN 2 NOVEMBER 2025
Special Programs
Classes / Talks / Interviews / Groups
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INSTAGRAM IS HERE. Please follow us!
COLLEGE RETREAT SATURDAY!
Led by Zen Master Bon Yeon
SAT 1 NOVEMBER 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
A rare opportunity to experience a day of meditation, in a supportive environment with your peers. Taking a pause from our everyday lives can be a welcome relief bringing increased clarity and peacefulness. Click link for more info. Open to both Graduate and Undergrad students.
Held in silence, the retreat includes meditation instruction, sitting and walking meditation, chanting, a delicious vegetarian lunch and a personal kong-an interview.
TWO-DAY YMJJ RETREAT
NOVEMBER 8 & 9 2025
LED BY DYAN EAGLES, JDPSN
Registration closes Thursday 6 November
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.
Please note all our offerings are in person only except where Zoom links are provided then it is in person and also on Zoom. Retreats are both and link is provided after registration.
Zen and the Art of Living Magically
360 Zen Study Series with Colin Beavan, JDPSN
Oct 27 on Zoom Only 7:00 PM
In this workshop, Colin Beavan JDPSN offers his personal reflections on the intersection of Zen-style freedom thinking, Hermetic Alchemy and Western New Thought—which emphasizes the power of thoughts to influence our reality.
TUESDAY 27 OCTOBER 7:30-9:30 PM
Join URL: Tuesday Zoom Meditation Practice / Meeting ID: 858 3084 3540
Jody Blackwell, Senior Dharma Teacher will offer consulting Interviews. There will be three sitting periods of 30 minutes.
*Note: Interviews may begin at 7PM during chanting
- 7:30-8:00pm Sitting
- 8:00-8:10pm Walking
- 8:10-8:40pm Sitting - 8:40-8:50pm Walking
- 8:50-9:20pm Sitting
If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.
DHARMA TALK - THURSDAY 30 NOVEMBER 7:30-8:30PM
Lorianne DiSabato, Senior Dharma Teacher will answer questions in person after an introductory talk by Jo Hall.
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.
Lorianne DiSabato is a Senior Dharma Teacher and has been practicing with the Kwan Um School of Zen for over 30 years. She served on the staff when she lived at CZC in the mid-1990s. She holds a PhD in English Literature from Northeastern University and teaches American literature and first-year writing at Framingham State University. She lives in Newton with her husband and many pets.
Jo Hall was born and raised in Hailey, Idaho, and has been practicing meditation since 2018. They began practicing with the KUSZ in 2021 at the Providence Zen Center while attending Brown University. They hold five precepts in the KUSZ and have been a resident at CZC since 2024. In addition to living at CZC, Jo is currently a PhD candidate at MIT in the Nuclear Science and Engineering Department, where they conduct research on nuclear fusion and plasma physics. Outside of zen and work, they are an avid hiker, runner, and skier.
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 Tuesday Long Sitting.
UNPACKING WHITENESS /SOCIAL JUSTICE DIVERSITY INITIATIVE
WED 5 NOVEMBER 8:15PM - 9:15 PM on Zoom Only.
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!
BIPOC GROUP
WED 5 NOV 5:00PM-6:30PM
(1st Wednesday IN PERSON))
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. To learn more about our sangha, please e-mail kfoo (kfoo@wpi.edu).
MEDITATION INSTRUCTION FOR NEWCOMERS
THURSDAY 30 OCTOBER 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.
CZC HALLOWEEN PARTY. FRIDAY 31 OCTOBER 8:30 PM
Come for a spooky night of fun at the CZC. Enjoy some music, snacks, and some dancing. Don't forget to don your best costume and see if you have a chance at winning our costume contest!
SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER 9:00-11:30 AM
Dyan Eagles, JDPSN will offer Kong-An Interviews.
Meeting ID 816 7973 3521
If you are new, please arrive 10-15 minutes early for brief instruction on our practice forms.
APPLE PICKING ADVENTURE SUNDAY 2 NOVEMBER
Join us for a refreshing day of apple picking!
Boston Hill Farm 1370 Turnpike Street
North Andover, MA 01845
We will leave CZC at 12:30 PM
To register; email director@cambridgezen.org
*Let us know if you need a ride there
YOUNG ZEN - CANCELLED 2 NOVEMBER 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.
Christian-Buddhist Retreat at Providence Zen Center Nov 15 Christian contemplation and Buddhist meditation practices use similar techniques as a way of returning to before thinking, to not-knowing. This retreat emphasizes sitting and walking meditation, and includes interfaith talks, interviews, and a Q&A.
7 Day YMJJ Retreat with Zen Master Soeng Hyang at Providence Zen Center.Practice traditional Korean intensive meditation, Yong Maeng Jong Jin (YMJJ), with Kwan Um Zen School Zen Master Soeng Hyang (Bobby Rhodes). Senior Dharma Teacher Mark O'Leary will serve as Head Dharma Teacher for this retreat; Dharma Teacher Elizabeth Goldstein will serve as Moktak Master. Sit for 3-7 days, in-person at Providence Zen Center. No previous retreat experience is required to sit this retreat.
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