Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice

We invite and welcome every person seeking refuge in the ancient teachings of wisdom and compassion to practice with our Sangha. The Mountains & Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism stands firmly against hatred and violence in all its forms.

Click here to read our Inclusion Statement.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice in the Mountains and Rivers Order
As practitioners of the Buddhist path of wisdom and compassion, we are committed to examining and freeing ourselves from racism and other forms of oppression as they manifest within ourselves and our sangha. We are actively working to transform the culture of our community so that Zen Mountain Monastery and the Zen Center of New York City can serve as places of true spiritual refuge for all seekers of the Way, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, class or any other identity.

To Apply for DEIJ Funding, click here.
To Donate to the DEIJ Fund, click here.

How are we transforming our culture?
Our Beyond Fear of Differences initiative has taken many forms, as you’ll see below and on our BFOD History page. Some of these focus on supporting and encouraging people’s individual work—such as affinity groups for white people to help identify, recognize and shift internalized bias. Other changes center on supporting, nourishing and strengthening the Black, Indigenous, Asian, and People of Color/Culture (BIAPoC) communities and the transgender and gender non-conforming and LGBTQIA+ communities within our sangha. Still other changes, such as the Sangha Harmony Advisory Council (SHAC), focus on shifting the structures and systems that guide training, practice and residential life at both Zen Mountain Monastery and Zen Center of New York City. 

To appreciate where we’re headed, it can be helpful to know where we’ve come from.
Click here for a historical overview of our Beyond Fear of Differences program.