Welcome
The Zen Society was established in 1985 by Seijaku Roshi and his students.
The purpose of The
Zen Society is
to inspire, nourish, and support people in their everyday life,
offering a distinctly contemporary Zen training program while
also providing a diverse menu for learning, spiritual
development, making
friends,
and renewing one's heart.
"The mission of The Zen Society is to participate in the transformation
of human consciousness and in so
doing change the world by making accessible and embody wisdom teachings,
compassion, and loving-kindness, through the lens of Buddha, Christ, and
Torah, conveyed to us by Seijaku Roshi through his teachings of Authentic
Spirituality. Our practice flows from the insight that all beings are
Enlightened, and that sitting in meditation, practicing wisdom, and engaging
in acts of compassionate service, is itself the realization of one's
True Nature, or Enlightenment."
Authentic Spirituality,
as defined by the founder - Seijaku Roshi, is about discovering the sacred
in everyday life, not just on some mountain in some far distant place and
time. It's about the spirituality of, "freshly mopped floors, stacked
dishes, and clothing blowing on the line." It is Zen in the Home, Zen
at the Parent-Teachers Conference, Zen in the Workplace, Zen on the
Expressway, Zen and Parenting, and Zen in Love.
Pine Wind Zen Center
Pine Wind Zen
Center is a practice place for a diverse population of students, visitors,
monks, and lay people from a variety of religious and spiritual backgrounds
-
An expansive spiritual journey where the insights of Zen, Buddhism, other
Wisdom Traditions and Faith-Based Religions, Science, and Art, collaborate
to help people regain balance and calm in the midst of an ever changing and
challenging world.
Zen Center programs also reach out to the community, helping
prisoners, the less fortunate, and those in recovery; protecting the
environment and the natural population, and working for peace.
At the
heart of our vision is a dedication to discovering the answers to the
central questions challenging each of us in
the
21st Century but not unique to this century - "How can we liberate the human heart from a fear
driven consciousness and culture; from the consciousness of concepts and beliefs; from greed; folly; and war, and in so doing evolve
with compassion,
community, global peace, justice, and the sanctity of all life-forms
and our Mother Earth."
Located in the
rural community of Shamong and the forest preserve in the
Pinelands of New Jersey, Pine Wind Zen Center offers an
atmosphere conducive for contemplation, prayer, education, and
renewal. You are
welcome to come and experience what only
can be explained in the ancient Roman saying, "Mir abate Dictu"
- too wonderful for words.
Practicing the "Dharma Beyond Buddhism", at no time does The Zen
Society exist to promote any peculiar religious doctrine, dogma,
or teachings, and shares no formal affiliation with other Zen
groups, denominations, or any hierarchy of Dharma Successors.
The Zen Society,
is a 501(c) (3) organization Persons of all faiths that promote the
principles of compassion, loving-kindness, and respect for all life
are welcome.
