Guided by Koshin Paley Ellison Sensei, Catch Your Mind is a yearly exploration of the central grounding themes in Soto Zen Buddhist practice and study.
This year’s focus will be Soto Zen’s Chinese Ancestors, twenty-five generations of teachers spanning from Bodhidharma’s import of Buddhism from India to China up until Dogen’s eventual export of the dharma to Japan. Their timeless dedication to liberation will serve as the foundation for our class.
Together, we will discover this robust stream of the Soto Zen lineage and allow it to enliven our rigorous textual study through the vitality of everyday practice. With heartening poetry and awesome teachings, these ancestors come alive now—guiding us toward connection and intimate participation with all beings, including ourselves.
Over the course of ten monthly classes (with opportunities for practice and connection in between), we will utilize sitting meditation, commentaries on sutras, koan study, and the craft of composing poetry. We will explore teachings that offer:
Whether you are familiar with Soto Zen Buddhism or come from a place of unknowing, this course is for you. Beginner’s mind is the best! You do not need any special background knowledge to thrive in this course; you only need to want to live wide awake, to connect and learn with others.
Join us for this enriching journey into the wisdom of the Chinese ancestors of Soto Zen and discover how their teachings can guide you toward a more connected and wholehearted way of living.
Financial Support: New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care endeavors to make our programs accessible. If the cost of this program is prohibitive, please choose the scholarship level. Please note that 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 14th | Oct 26th | (No Class Session in Nov) | Dec 21st | Jan 18th | Feb 8th | Mar 1st | Apr 19th | May 10th | June 7th | July 12th
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.
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.
60.5 Continuing Education Credits (CEs) are available for Social Workers.
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.
Master’s Level Credit
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.
Certificate in Soto Zen Buddhst Studies
This course is part of our certificate program which you can learn more about here.
Combine Classes for a Weekend of Practice and Study
Our Zen Precepts: Living an Ethical Life class 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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