Jizo-an Zen Community
Meditation - Mindfulness - Benevolent Service - Community
Jizo-an Zen Community now makes its home at our new facility in Cherry Hill, NJ, offering all our events at the new Zendo. Please see below for the latest information on In-Person and Livestreamed Zendo Events, and other ways to connect. You can also keep up with us through our Newsletter, our podcast, as well as Patreon and social media. If you are not currently receiving our Newsletter, you can add your name to our mailing list.
All of the following programs are offered at low cost or without a fee requirement. If you would like to make a donation, you can do so through the registration process, or via our Donation Page. Thank you for your support!
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Please note that if you are planning on attending any program in person, you can pay the program registration fee in person at the door. Registration online is only required if you will be attending the program online via Zoom. In-person registration can be paid by cash, or check made out to The Zen Society.
Upcoming In-Person & Online Zendo Programs (Zoom) for December 2023
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The Ease & Joy of Morning Meditation (Virtual Meditation Online Only)
Livestream Meditation Schedule:
Every day (7 Days/week, at 5:30am Online)
EVERY WEEK OF THE MONTH
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Zazen is the dharma gate of great ease and joy
— this is the standard that Master Dogen lays down.
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Join us for a morning of meditation where we sit with ease and intimacy. We spend this time together in self-exploration and investigation. It is ideal for beginners, intermediate, and experienced meditators who wish to deepen their practice. The Ease and Joy of Mornings is open to everyone.
We come together as community to sit Zazen, or silent illumination, for 25-30 minutes. On some mornings, Zazen is followed by a short reading and reflection, and we close with a recitation of the Four Great Vows and the Benefit for All. ​
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REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED. DONATIONS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.
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The Ease & Joy of Evening Meditation & Dharma Discussion
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Virtual Meditation and a brief Evening Dharma Discussion (Online Only)
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Livestream Meditation: Tuesday & Thursday Evenings 7:00pm - 8:00pm
EVERY WEEK OF THE MONTH
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Practice and enlightenment, the masters have long said, are both solitary and social endeavors. We need each other for reflection, encouragement and inspiration. Though some may have a strong capacity for seclusion, Sangha is one of the three precious gems for a very good reason—we depend on each other to wake up. "We Are More Together Than Alone."
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Guidelines for Participating (Zazen) Meditation Over Zoom:
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Please join sittings a few minutes before the scheduled time, so as to be seated and settled in place before the period of zazen begins.
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Please keep your microphone muted until the very end.
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The group leader will ring three bells to begin zazen & one bell to signal the end of zazen.
*Please Note: There will be NO Thursday Evening Meditation and Dharma Discussion on December 7th. The Monks will be at Murray Grove preparing for Rohatsu Sesshin, which begins Dec. 8th. Thursday Evening meditation will resume on Dec. 14th.
REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED. DONATIONS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.
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CLICK THIS LINK TO JOIN THE 7PM MEETING
ZEN STUDIES PROGRAM - Online and IN-PERSON*
Wednesday December 6th, 2023, 7:00PM
Join Rev. Sensei Emyo for orientation for Rohatsu
ROHATSU SESSHIN- introduction to Sacred Silence
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“Rohatsu” literally means the 8th day of the 12th month, also known as “Bodhi Day”, the day Siddhartha Gautama, the future Buddha, is said to have looked up at the morning star and attained enlightenment. “Sesshin” means to collect one’s heart-mind. This sesshin, therefore, commemorates the Buddha’s enlightenment.
Rohatsu Sesshin is a precious opportunity to experience the deep stillness and clarity of heart that is a taste of awakening which comes from a longer sesshin. Rohatsu Sesshin is conducted in silence, and includes seated meditation (zazen), walking meditation (kinhin), sutra chanting, meals conducted in silence, work practice (samu), dharma talks, and time for silent reflection. As we sit in silence, we will be joined by thousands of other dharma practitioners around the world also commemorating the Buddha's enlightenment.
Join us at our Temple as we enter into the silence of Rohatsu Sesshin with an orientation, chanting of the sutras, and zazen. This sesshin will continue at Murray Grove Retreat Center on Friday December, 8th and continue until Sunday December 10th.
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REGISTER FOR WEDNESDAY ONLINE EVENT (CLICK HERE)
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IN-PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER*
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Friday
8:00 am – Check-in for lodging
9:00 am – 9:30 Sesshin Orientation (Emyo)
9:30 am – 12:00 Zazen & Morning Sutras
12:00 pm – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 Samu (work practice)
1:30 – 3:00 Zazen FRIDAY ONLINE ZENDO
3:00 – 3:30 Teaching (Genjo) (CLICK HERE)
3:30 – 4:30 Zazen
4:30 – 5:00 Free time for reflection
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 Zazen
8:30 pm Closing Vows
Saturday
6:00 am – 7:00 am Zazen & Morning Sutras
7:00-8:00 - Breakfast
8:00 am -12:00 Zazen
12:00 pm – 1:00 Lunch
1:00 – 1:30 Samu (work practice)
1:30 – 3:00 Zazen SATURDAY ONLINE ZENDO
3:00 – 3:30 Teaching (Donen) (CLICK HERE)
3:30 – 4:30 Zazen
4:30 – 5:00 Free time for reflection
5:00 – 6:00 Dinner
6:30 – 8:30 Zazen
8:30 pm Closing Vows
Sunday
6:00 am – 7:00am Zazen & Morning Sutras
7:00- 8:00 - Breakfast
8:00- 8:30 - cleaning rooms for departure SUNDAY ONLINE ZENDO
8:30 – 12:00 Zazen & Closing Vows (CLICK HERE)
12:00 pm – 1:00 Lunch & Sharing
Closing Comments (Emyo)
ZEN STUDIES PROGRAM Online AND IN-PERSON*
Wednesday December 13th, 2023, 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Join Rev. Kevin Genjo LeBlanc for one of our monthly Zen studies program
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Wake, Practice, Repeat.
"Repetition is the mother of all teachers." This is as true for spiritual practice as it is for anything else we can know. The difference in the realm of the spirit is it's more about what we don't 'know,' and in that place there is nothing to attain, no door prizes or grab bags on your way out; and this little fact is at the core of almost all the troubles we encounter when we begin any discipline. Our modern world holds no value in doing something that you will get nothing from...it says why bother?
So, the key isn't what you can get from these practices, but what you can lose...hatred, anxiety, worry and confusion to name a few.
Our teacher, Seijaku Roshi, would always say "the truth is always right here, the only thing missing is you." Repetition is the mortar that forms the bed of the great river, endlessly flowing.
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Join us for an evening of Zazen, (seated meditation) Kinhin (walking mediation) chanting of the Sutras and a Dharma discussion...both in-person and online.
REGISTER FOR ONLINE EVENT (click here)
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*IN PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER
ZEN STUDIES PROGRAM- Online and IN-PERSON*
Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 at 7:00PM- 9:00PM
Join Rev. Orlando Donen Nieves for this monthly Zen Studies program
The Jewel of Sangha
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Sangha is one of the Three Treasures of practice. Sangha is the community of practioners, and also the larger global community. The Paradox of awakening is that although one must walk this path to liberation alone, we can not do it by ourselves...we need Sangha. We simultaneously walk this path with one another and for one another. This is how we begin to see "for the benefit of all beings," and to actualize that reality in our daily life.
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We are relational beings from the moment we are born, and with everything in life. We are in relationship with ourselves, each other, the food, air, water, and all of Mother Earth. Our practice is a Way of being in the world and in relationship with ourselves and others. Sangha is the way we bring the teachings alive and into the lives of others.
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Join us for a period of Zazen (seated meditation), Kinhin (walking meditation), chanting of the sutras, and a Dharma discussion. Both online and in-person.
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REGISTER FOR ONLINE EVENT (click here)
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*IN PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER
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SUNDAY MORNING MEDITATION AND LITURGY *in-person and online
Sunday December 17th, 2023, 9:00AM- 11:00AM
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Sunday Morning Meditation and Liturgy Service
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Join us for an hour of meditation followed by our Monthly Liturgy Service paying Homage to all Buddhas, all sentient beings.
Also; Anyone who has received the Bodhisattva Precepts will renew their vows in the ceremony of Fusatsu this day as well.
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REGISTER FOR ONLINE EVENT (click here)
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*IN PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER