Jizo-an Zen Community now makes its home 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!

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 2025.

THE EASE AND JOY OF MORNING MEDITATION: Online Only

Every day (7 Days/week, at 5:30am Online)

Zazen is the dharma gate of great ease and joy

— this is the standard that Master Dogen lays down.

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.

REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED. DONATIONS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE 5:30AM MEDITATION

THE EASE AND JOY OF EVENING MEDITATION

Meditation and a brief Evening Dharma Discussion: Online Only

Every Tuesday & Thursday Evening, 7:00pm - 8:00pm

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."

Guidelines for Participating (Zazen) Meditation Over Zoom:

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.
Please keep your microphone muted until the very end.
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 Thursday, December 4, 2025. The Monks and community will be gathering for Rohatsu Sesshin at Murray Grove Retreat Center.

REGISTRATION NOT REQUIRED. DONATIONS WELCOME AND APPRECIATED.

CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE 7:00PM MEDITATION

ZEN STUDIES PROGRAM: ONLINE and *IN-PERSON
Wednesday December 10th 2025, 7:00PM - 9:00PM
Join the Monks of Jizo-an for presentations by two of our formal students, Nancy & Dan Scheingold:

Nancy's presentation is titled Abiding in Emptiness and will explore the Zen sensibility of emptiness. It will attempt to describe what "emptiness" means in lived practice rather than as a philosophical abstraction. In doing so, it will touch on how this perspective informs our understanding of experience and the nature of mind.

Dan’s talk will focus on Tao and Zen: The Similarities Between Tao, Ch'an and Zen,

and will examine the connections between Chan/Zen and Taoism, and how Taoist philosophy might have influenced or seeped into Buddhist philosophy and teachings when it arrived from India to China.

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.

*IN PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER

ROHATSU SESSHIN: ONLINE and *IN-PERSON
Thursday, December 4th thru the 7th
Join the Monks of Jizo-an Zen Community for our annual multi-day retreat at Murray Grove

ROHATSU SESSHIN This Sesshin (retreat) is in silence with periods of sitting and walking meditation, chanting, teachings, formal meals, and free time for reflection. Sesshin provides a powerful, peaceful, and inspirational environment supporting the unification of body and mind, and community.

This year's Rohatsu Sesshin will be held at Murray Grove Retreat Center, Lanoka Harbor, Ocean County, NJ 08734. The retreat center is located on 20 acres nestled in the Pine Barrens adjacent to the 200-acre Edwin B. Fortsythe Wildlife Refuge.

The Sesshin will begin on Thursday night, December 4th and continue to Sunday afternoon, December 7th. In order to experience the magic of this Sesshin, the monks strongly encourage participation in the full Sesshin. However, if this is not possible, we encourage participation to the maximum extent practical. Details regarding lodging, registration and schedule is provided here. If you have any questions, feel free to contact Sensei Emyo at emyo@thezensociety.org.

*REGISTER AS INDICATED ABOVE

ZEN STUDIES PROGRAM: ONLINE and *IN-PERSON

Wednesday December 17th, 2025, 7:00PM- 9:00PM

Join Reverend Kevin “Genjo” LeBlanc for one of our monthly Dharma talks...

The Hypocrisy Of Desire

In simple terms: we crave more, different and new. When one learns how to 'look' desire is constantly there, knocking and knocking like a sales man who has exactly what you want yet knows you don't need. This seems to be true whether it's for more love or more cars or more fear. The reality is that desire creates this constant conflict within us. This is why most humans breathe very shallowly…like a boa constrictor that's tight enough to hold you down but not tight enough to cut off the flow of air.

The hypocrisy comes to life as we all become so well versed at pretending it's not so. The white lie is the art of withholding the truth…while the extreme side of dishonesty has many faces and usually easy to recognize, the subtle forms of dishonesty remain quietly hidden behind a genuine smile or friendly offer. This is not about right and wrong but simply to notice a common flaw of ego's voice…it tricks us in 10,00 ways.

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.

JOIN THE ONLINE EVENT (CLICK HERE)

*IN-PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER

SUNDAY MORNING ZAZEN: ONLINE and *IN-PERSON

Sunday, December 21st, 2025 9:00am - 10:30am

Join the Monks of Jizo-an Zen Community for a morning of silent meditation

Zen Meditation

Zazen is at the core of Soto Zen Buddhism. It has been refined and well honed over thousands of years and because of these endless offerings down through the ages, we are invited to a way to show up to ourselves that actually works. It has been said that a Zendo (meditation hall) is a conducive space for enlightenment and so we come together in community, for community, for that very purpose.

Open to both beginners and experienced practitioners.

Please arrive 10-15 mins early so we can all begin together on time...cushions and chairs are provided.

JOIN THE ONLINE EVENT (CLICK HERE)

*IN PERSON NEED NOT REGISTER

ZAZEN:ONLINE ONLY

Wednesday DECEMBER 3rd, 2025, 7:00PM- 8:30PM

Join Seishin for a Special Session of Zazen in Preparation for Rohatsu...

Wednesday Evening Meditation

In Preparation for Rohatsu, Seishin will host a online sitting session on Zoom. Join Seishin and our sangha for an online-only meditation. Three seated meditation sessions will be shared, along with the Great Vows and Benefit for All.

Join us for an evening of Zazen, (seated meditation) Kinhin (walking mediation) chanting of the Great Vows and Benefit for All—online only.

JOIN THE ONLINE EVENT (CLICK HERE)