Starting in 30 Days
once a month on saturdays, sept 2026 – july 2027
In-Person and Online
9:00 – 4:00 pm ET
How do we practice in a world on fire? How do we help without becoming overwhelmed, turning away, or believing we are separate from the suffering around us?
This year’s Catch Your Mind course is a ten-month journey of Zen study and practice through The Vimalakīrti Sutra, one of the great Mahayana Buddhist texts.
The Vimalakīrti Sutra has endured for centuries because it brings awakening out of the monastery and into the fullness of everyday life. Its central figure, Vimalakīrti, is a lay practitioner who teaches through illness, silence, humor, relationship, and direct engagement with the suffering of the world.
This sutra asks the questions many of us are living with now: How do we help without burning out? How do we stay open in the face of discomfort? How do we practice wisdom and compassion in our relationships, our work, our bodies, and our world?
Over ten monthly classes, we will engage in a rhythm of sitting meditation, close textual study, discussion, writing, and personal reflection. Each gathering includes a morning of shared practice and an afternoon of guided inquiry, with opportunities for connection between sessions.
Together, we will explore:
This course is open to anyone who wants to wake up and be caring. Whether you are new to Zen, familiar with Buddhist practice, or have been practicing for many years, you do not need any special background knowledge to participate fully. Beginner’s mind is welcome.
This course is especially for those who want to bring spiritual practice into daily life: relationships, work, service, caregiving, grief, uncertainty, and the longing to meet this world with more wisdom and compassion.
Participants should be willing to read between classes, practice zazen, engage in reflective conversations, and explore how the teachings apply to their own lives.
Join us for this transformative year of study and practice!
Financial Support: NYZC endeavors to make our programs accessible. If the cost of this program is prohibitive, please choose the scholarship level. There are a limited number of scholarship seats available. If the scholarship level is not listed on the registration form, that means it is no longer available.
Sept 12th* | Oct 17th | (no class session in Nov) | Dec 19th | Jan 30th | Feb 27th | Mar 13th | Apr 17th | May 15th | June 12th | July 10th
This hybrid model class allows students to attend the program remotely (via Zoom) or in person. Please choose which option best suits your needs during registration. There are a limited number of in person spots available
*Please note that the holiday of Rosh Hashanah falls on September 11–13. We understand that some participants may be unable to attend the September 12 session due to the holiday. A recording of the main aspects of all classes will be available on the course site.
The course schedule includes participation in NYZC’s monthly Half-Day retreats (whether virtually or in-person) from 9:00 am – 1:00 pm ET and the Catch Your Mind class from 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm ET*.
In between monthly classes, there will be required readings, discussion forum participation, and an assigned “buddy” to connect with and engage over the course material.
*Recordings of the class, not including breakout room discussions, will be made available to registered students.
Please be sure to add this to your registration if you’d like to receive CEs for this course. You will also be required to complete an evaluation form at the end of the semester in order to receive CEs. NYZC is an approved provider of SW CEs through the NYSED State Board for Social Work. If you are licensed outside of New York State, please check with your local SW Board to make sure they’ll accept these CEs.
Register at this level if you need Masters Credit. You will also be required to write a 10-page paper. If you register at any of the audit levels, you can still participate fully in the class and will not be required to submit a 10-page paper.
This course is part of our certificate program which you can learn more about here.
Our course Living an Ethical Life: A Study of the Zen Precepts is offered (mostly) on the same weekend of each Catch Your Mind class. Many students opt to register for both classes and treat each monthly weekend as a semi-retreat and study intensive.
Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei, MFA, LMSW, DMIN, is an author, Zen teacher, Jungian psychotherapist, and Certified Chaplaincy Educator. After many years as a chaplain and psychotherapist, Koshin co-founded the New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care. Koshin is a world renowned thought leader in contemplative care. He is the author of Untangled: Walking the Eightfold Path to Clarity, Courage, and Compassion (Balance/Hachette, 2022); Wholehearted: Slow Down, Help Out, Wake Up (Wisdom Publications, 2019) and the co-editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care (Wisdom Publications, 2016). His work has been featured in the New York Times, PBS, CBS Sunday Morning, and Tricycle Magazine among other publications.
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