To study the Way is to study the self.
To study the self is to forget the self.
To forget the self is to allow the ten thousand things to flow.
—Zen Master Dogen, from the Genjōkōan
The heart of our work at New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care flows from our high value of the practice of meditation, contemplation, and Zen practice. To care for the world, we care for ourselves. In caring for ourselves, we care for the whole world.
Meditation has been clinically proven to have great benefits for health and well-being. This often is an initial motivation to begin the practice. The promise of a continuous meditation practice is the practice of freedom from the suffering caused from the layers of conditioning that we foster through maintaining our fixed sense of self. The practice of meditation allows us to experience the ease and joy of being—of becoming fresh and new in each moment.
Meditation is a practice that we do everyday, and we gather together in community to practice together to support one another. Our community is made up of Jewish, Catholic, Episcopal, Tibetan Buddhists, Zen Buddhists and those who don’t wish to identify with a particular tradition. One does not need to identify as a Buddhist or Zen practitioner to realize within oneself the value of Zen practice.
All are welcome—from those who are curious about meditation and those who have been meditating for decades. Chairs and cushions are available on Mondays, Wednesdays at our day-long retreats as well our annual residential Sesshin Silent retreat.
Below are our current offerings for meditation and Zen practice.
Monday Evenings
Join us for Zen meditation, a Dharma Talk and discussion. These meetings are held at Beth Israel Medical Center’s Karpas Community Health Center 311 1st Avenue at 18th Street from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Suggested Donation is $10. Check the Upcoming Events page for details.
Wednesday Evenings
Join us for a night of silent practice of Zen meditation, with two periods of meditation in community. Daisan, or private interview with a Dharma teacher, is also offered most Wednesday evenings during Zazen. These meetings are held at Beth Israel Medical Center’s Karpas Community Health Center, 311 1st Avenue at 18th Street from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Suggested Donation is $10. Check the Upcoming Events page for details.
Sesshin: Residential Silent Retreat at Garrison Institute
Sesshin literally means the heart-mind touching itself or the gathering of mind. Sesshin is a period of intensive zazen meditation. Zazen, or seated mind, is the Zen form of silent sitting meditation. It is the core of Zen practice. In these silent retreats, we practice zazen together under the guidance of the core teachers of NYZCCC. Each day will consist of 30 minute-long meditation periods, walking meditation, work practice, body practice, daily Dharma talks and individual interview (daisan) with the retreat leaders. These retreats are an opportunity to experience the intimacy of Zen practice. All are welcome. Our annual sesshin is offered in January, over Martin Luther King weekend. For more information and for registration, check the Upcoming Events page for details.
