The Zen Center offers a continuing series of weekly classes of different levels, starting every four months. New classes to be announced in the future. Anyone that is interested can register, progressing from the beginning Zen meditation methods and fundamental principles to advanced sutra studies. Each class meets for two hours, consisting of meditation practice in the first hour and a lecture on Zen Buddhist teachings in the second hour. Students should be physically and mentally healthy.
English Level I (Beginning) Meditation Class
Every Monday 7:30pm – 9:30pm; every Saturday 10:00am – noon
No prior meditation experience needed.
Meditation methods: Breath-counting and mindfulness of breathing
Topics covered: Introduction to Buddhism and Zen, Chung Tai Chan practices, karma and causality, the Four Noble Truths (suffering, the causes of suffering, nirvana, the Noble Eightfold Path), and Three Refuges.
English Level II (Intermediate) Meditation Class
Every Wednesday 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Experience in Level I Class required.
Meditation methods: Middle way reality contemplation and compassion contemplation.
Topics covered: Five Precepts, Buddhist Cosmology, Vegetarianism in Buddhism, The bodhisattva ideal – the six paramitas: perfection of charity, morality, tolerance, diligence, meditation, and prajna wisdom.
English Level III Meditation Class
Every Wednesday 7:30pm – 9:30pm
Experience in Level I and Level II Classes required.
Meditation Methods: Continuation of previous methods.
Topics covered: General Buddhist topics. Sutra of the Eight Realizations of Great Beings and Bodhidharma’s Treatise on the Essence of Mahayana Practice.
Sutra Study Class
Every Tuesday 10:00am – noon
Every Thursday 7:00pm – 9:30pm
Experience in Level I, II, and III Classes required.
Meditation Methods: Continuation of previous methods.
Topics covered: Sutra on Impermanence and Sutra of Forty-Two Chapters.
Children’s and Youth’s Meditation Classes
The Children’s Meditation Class is for children ages 4-12. Parents are encouraged to join.
The Youth’s Meditation Class is for teens ages 12-17.
No prior meditation experience is needed.
Both classes are designed for younger children and teens to discover their inner wisdom and develop a positive outlook on life. The creatively designed curriculum includes meditation instruction, Dharma talks, Zen stories, films, character-building activities, field trips, and more. Students learn to sharpen their awareness and concentration and to appreciate the gifts of this world.