The Village Zendo is a Zen community in the heart of downtown New York City. Serving as a sanctuary in busy Manhattan, we offer daily meditation, dharma talks, Buddhist services, retreats, workshops and study groups. Participation is open to all.

Daily Schedule

Calendar

About Practice

Teachers

About Us

In Person

Body, Breath, and Mind: An Introduction to Zen

First Sunday of Every Month
9:30am – 11:00am

Are you new to Zen practice, or visiting us for the first time? This monthly class is open to all who wish to learn to meditate, or would like a refresher.

Recommendations for a comfortable, stable sitting posture are given, as well as guidance on how to begin a meditation practice and do walking meditation.

There will be an emphasis on finding ease in practice, and on the significance of practicing with a community and with teachers. The instruction is punctuated with short periods of silent meditation.

There will be ample opportunity for Q & A.

Online

Learn to Meditate Online

Every Monday via Zoom
6:30pm Eastern Time

Beginners and experienced meditators alike are welcome to join us every Monday for our online Learn to Meditate class. Recommendations for a comfortable, stable sitting posture are given, as well as guidance on how to begin a meditation practice and do walking meditation. There will be ample opportunity for Q & A.

If you are new to Zen or meditation practice, this is an opportunity to learn about Zen meditation practice and ask questions in a welcoming and relaxed environment.

Online

Learn to Meditate Online

Every Monday via Zoom
6:30pm Eastern Time

Beginners and experienced meditators alike are welcome to join us every Monday for our online Learn to Meditate class. Recommendations for a comfortable, stable sitting posture are given, as well as guidance on how to begin a meditation practice and do walking meditation. There will be ample opportunity for Q & A.

If you are new to Zen or meditation practice, this is an opportunity to learn about Zen meditation practice and ask questions in a welcoming and relaxed environment.

“The Village Zendo has made a profound difference in my life and the lives of many others. It is a welcoming group that balances serious practice with great joy and fun. Come to learn to meditate, stay to change your life.”

— Jennifer

“Profound authentic Zen practice in a welcoming environment. Great experienced teachers and senior students. Beautiful quiet meditation daily. On Sunday’s and Thursday evening there are interesting contemporary Dharma talks. Beginning instruction is every Monday evening. The are cool events, workshops and activities that support a lively community.”

— Rodney

“My spiritual home for 30 years and I’m still amazed at the depth, warmth, intelligence and creativity of teachers and students alike. And more teachers per capita probably than any sangha around!”

— Neil

“Similar to other reviewers, I live quite a distance from the Village Zendo. I, nonetheless, am a member and formal student of VZ. I find the community welcoming, vibrant, diverse and deeply intentional. Led by Enkyo Roshi, our teachers are engaged, astute, open, available… true mentors and practice leaders. VZ retreats and programs are powerful, challenging, transformative. I am so grateful for and to this sangha! Belonging to the VZ community is well-worth the logistics of my living at a distance.”

— Marjorie

Daily Meditation Schedule

In-Person Practice Schedule   learn more about in-person practice >

TUESDAYS
7:30am - 8:30am
6:30pm - 8:00pm

WEDNESDAYS
7:30am - 8:30am
6:30pm - 8:00pm

THURSDAYS
7:30am - 8:30am
5:30pm - 6:00pm
Dharma Talk & Service:
6:05pm - 6:30pm

FIRST SUNDAYS
Body, Breath, Mind: Intro to Zen (in-person):
9:30am - 11:00am
OTHER SUNDAYS
Service, Zazen, Dharma Talk:
9:30am - 11:25am

Online Practice Schedule   learn more about online practice >

MONDAY
7:30am - 8:30am
Learn to Meditate:
6:30pm - 7:30pm

TUESDAY
7:30am - 8:30am
6:30pm - 7:30pm

WEDNESDAY
7:30am - 8:30am
6:30pm - 7:30pm

THURSDAY
7:30am - 8:30am
5:30pm - 6:00pm
Dharma Talk & Service:
6:05pm - 6:40pm

FRIDAY
7:30am - 8:30am

SATURDAY
Bolivian Sitting Group:
7:00am - 8:00am
People of Color Sitting Group
10:30am - 12:00pm

FIRST SUNDAYS
Practice & Inquiry Circle (online):
9:30am - 11:00am
OTHER SUNDAYS
Service, Zazen, Dharma Talk:
9:30am - 11:25am

Upcoming Events

Featured Retreats, Workshops & Events

About the Village Zendo

Vision Statement

We envision a world of peace where all beings treat each other and their environment with awareness, wisdom and compassion.

Mission Statement

To provide a way for realizing a life of awareness, wisdom and compassion. We do this by offering training in the teachings of Zen Buddhism and by cultivating and maintaining a practice environment that is supported by teachers and a community of practitioners in the heart of New York City.

Inclusivity

We welcome people of different cultures, colors, abilities, ages, identifications, and beliefs who can practice within the guidelines for meditation and harmonious practice that we have laid out for the Village Zendo. We appreciate and explore our differences in order to build understanding, harmony, and openness for the whole community.

Our Community

The Village Zendo is a community of people who come together to practice in the Soto Zen tradition. We offer zazen (sitting meditation), one-on-one instruction with a teacher, dharma talks, chanting services, retreats, workshops and study groups.

Co-founded in 1986 by Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara and Roshi Barbara Joshin O’Hara, the Village Zendo is committed to authentically continuing the Zen tradition while keeping it contemporary and relevant to today’s world. We are located in lower Manhattan, offering a place of healing and sanctuary in the midst of one of the world’s busiest and most vital cities.

Our abbot, Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara, received dharma transmission in the White Plum lineage of Taizan Maezumi Roshi, which incorporates both the Soto and Rinzai Zen traditions. Our zendo has been given the Japanese name Dotoku-ji (True Expression Temple).

Enkyo Roshi is supported by eight dharma successors who form the VZ teaching staff. The zendo is known for its vibrant and diverse community and the stability of a sangha that draws from a core of longtime dedicated practitioners. Our programming emphasizes the myriad ways Zen relates to our daily lives writing, social action, health and well-being, and the arts as well as traditional Zen studies.

Participation is open to all. We welcome practitioners and students of various traditions to join us at whatever level of commitment they wish. We welcome people of different cultures, colors, abilities, ages, identifications, and beliefs who can practice within the guidelines for meditation and harmonious practice that we have laid out for the Village Zendo. We appreciate and explore our differences in order to build understanding, harmony, and openness for the whole community.

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