Cultivating the Seeds of Zen: A 90-Day Commit To Sit Practice Period

Wednesday, June 1st – Monday, August 29th, 2022

Led by New York Zen Center’s Guiding Teacher: Koshin Paley Ellison

with Jan Chozen Bays, Chodo Robert Campbell, Ben Connelly, Dai En Friedman, Issho Fujita, Konjin Gaelyn Godwin, Gesshin Claire Greenwood, Ryushin Paul Haller, Diane Musho Hamilton, Genyu Kojima, Shinzan Palma, Ilia Shinko Perez, Diane Eshin Rizzetto, Ryoki Sato, and Yuko Wakayama Yamada.

Join Zen teachers from across the United States and Japan for an in-depth, 90-day exploration of Zen practice and study guided by our study text, Zen Seeds: Reflections of a Female Priest, Shundo Aoyama Rōshi’s (b.1933) collection of short personal reflections, Zen parables, Buddhist scripture, and spellbinding poetry.

One of the foremost contemporary Japanese Zen teachers and the highest-ranking nun in Sōtō Zen history, Aoyama Rōshi’s incisively clear and simple contemplations explore and illuminate a variety of aspects of daily experience, whether as a monastic or lay practitioner. Her writing acts as a guide, not only on Zen practice, but on effort, happiness, and gratitude through the vicissitudes of life.

Through weekly online dharma talks, daily practice emails, group discussions, and meditation, we will allow our practice to take root within us and flower the essential aspects of compassion and wisdom.

This unique practice period includes:

• Opening dharma talk Wednesday, June 1st at 7:30 pm ET; Closing dharma talk Monday, August 29th at 7:30 pm ET
• Weekly dharma talks and Q+A, live-streamed Sunday (and some Thursday) evenings at 7:30 pm ET. Access to recordings will also be made available.
• Daily email reflections selected from the study text to support our learning.
• Daily opportunities to sit zazen in our Online Zendo with participants from around the world, with two additional dharma talks each week.
• Access to an online forum for discussion and reflection with other Commit to Sit practitioners.
• Additional resources to support you in deepening your practice.

Each Commit to Sit registration supports the important direct care, training and educational work of New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care.

No one will be turned away for lack of funds. Please click here for further information.