Sangha Practice Groups
We encourage everyone participating in any of our Zoom events to add your pronouns to your name in order to promote gender inclusion. To do this, once in the Zoom meeting click on the three dots in the corner of your screen, edit your name and add your pronouns. Here’s a link on why that’s important: zmm.org/pronouns.
Daily Zazen over Zoom and Live Streaming
Please visit ZMM.org/zazen-online for times and links.
BIAPoC (Black, Indigenous, Asian and People of Color) Sangha Gathering
In-Person: Next in-person event will be the BIAPOC retreat, November 13 – 15, 2026, held at ZMM.
Zoom: Select Sundays 5:00-6:15pm
We will meet to share, listen, and support each other’s practice and experience through in-person retreats at ZCNYC & ZMM, as well as online meetings on select Sunday evenings.
Dates and time will be announced via email & updated here. Discussions are led by one of us on a rotating basis. Please contact biapoc@dharma.net if you would like more information or to sign up.
LGBTQIA+ Sitting Group (for those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, agender, or other): Come join us for two periods of zazen every Tues from 6pm. This is followed by a half-hour community check-in. Please note: during sesshin weeks, we will end at 7pm with no discussion. Click Here to sign up for the weekly Tuesday zazen. If you have any questions, please contact the group coordinators via lgbtqia@dharma.net. We look forward to seeing you! Tuesday, 6:00 – 7:00 or 7:30p.m.
Silver Dragons – Aging in the Dharma
Mondays 7-8:30 PM: April 13th & 27th, May 11th, June 1st, 15th & 29th
This group, facilitated, by Jisho and Senju, is for older practitioners exploring the challenges and rewards of aging in the context of Dharma. Each session will be devoted to a primary focus, e.g.: unfinished business, losing loved ones, changes in self-perception, loss of autonomy, gifts of old age, dying in the Dharma. Link to register for Zoom meeting is here.
Disability Neurodivergence Affinity Group
2nd Wednesday of each month, 7 – 8:30p.m. Eastern Time
This group creatively explores the ways in which we practice and engage the dharma across our various embodiments. It is a space to share your experience and needs within the group and our broader sangha. At this general group meeting, participants who identify as disabled* will have the opportunity to delve into discussions regarding disability and neurodivergence within the context of zen practice. Come be a part of the conversation!” Registration link is here. Upcoming meetings: Oct 14th, Nov 11th, Dec 9th.
*In the group, we are currently defining disability as a social issue, rather than a purely biological or medical problem. If you are curious about whether or not you identify as disabled, this article is a good starting point: “The Social Model of Disability Explained”
Green Tara Women’s Group
A space to share our experiences in the sangha and the larger world grounded in our experiences as women. Discussions are meant to help us be more present and connected with each other and everyone in our lives.
For the next several months, we will be reading “The Wakeful Body: Somatic Mindfulness as a Path to Freedom,” by Willa Blythe Baker. We will be reading one chapter per month on our own and then coming together at our meetings to do the exercises in the book.
4th Monday of the month. Please click here to sign up. Email Sara Smith-Shull for more info akaenew@me.com Next dates: June 22, July 27, and August 24 Sept 28, Oct 26, Nov 23, Dec 28.
European Sangha Practice Group
You are welcome to join us on zoom for one hour of Zazen, 7am Paris-time, Mondays through Saturdays. Plus, on Monday evenings, 8pm Paris-time, we sit for a half-hour of Zazen followed by a half-hour of reading aloud together.
Here is an info-sheet to view or download: MRO-EuroSanghaPracticeGroup-
Click Here to sign up directly to the zoom meeting. You can also email us at MROEuroSangha@gmail.com to say hello, get zoom connection-help and other details.
1st Monday of every month, 7pm – 8:30pm EST
Green Dragon’s Gather Under the Tree—Earth awareness and nourishing words from environmental/dharma leaders and discussion of various Call to Action activities in response climate crisis and our need for mutual support. Register here to receive a zoom link and meeting reminders. Upcoming meetings: July 6th, August 3rd, September 8th(Tues), October 5th, November 2nd, December 7th.
2nd Monday of every month, 7pm – 8pm EST
BIAPoC Book Group (for those who identify as Black, Indigenous, Asian or Person of Color):
For updates on our readings and the zoom link, please join our Gaggle Group via this link.
If you have any difficulty joining, please email danlatorre.tint@gmail.
1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month, 6:30–8:00 p.m.
An online Sangha Practice Group- Sutra reading: September 1, 15, October 6, 27
All are welcome as we continue reciting The Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in 8000 lines. Please register in advance for this meeting via this link. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If you have questions, contact baconwarren915@gmail.com.
Selected Wednesdays Monthly, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
A Circle of Men: A Dharma-based men’s affinity group.
Anyone who identifies as a man is welcome. This sangha group is to provide a space for us to draw upon our experience with meditation and dharma study to examine our conditioning as men, and the effect this has on ourselves and others. Please register so that we know how many to expect.
Meetings run from 6:30 to 8pm: September 16th, October 14th, November 11th. Click here to sign up
Select Wednesdays (usually twice per month), 6:30–8:00 p.m.
A Dharma Conversation and Text Study Group
Join us for zazen, Dharma study and conversation. May we practice well together. New text in May: Nothing Special Living Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck Roshi. (1917–2011) She was an important modern American Zen Master, founder of the Ordinary Mind Zen School and the Zen Center of San Diego, and a dharma sister of Daido Roshi. Her teaching expresses the absolute in the midst of the everyday. Facilitator: Senior lay student Michelle Seigei Spark. Click here to sign up and for dates.
First Sunday of the month, 3:00 p.m.
People of African Descent (PAD) Sangha Gathering & Book Study: We are currently we are reading “You Belong” by Sebene Selassie. Discussions are led by one of us on a rotating basis. Please contact wells.robin@gmail.com if you would for more information or to sign up.
First and Third Sunday of the month, 1:30–3:00 p.m
“What is Whiteness?” Sangha Affinity Group: This group is for those who identify as white and is part of an ongoing monthly inquiry—based in Dharma practice—into Whiteness and its many biases and blind spots. This Ango, we will be looking at whiteness and immigration, specifically how some groups, such as Italians, Jews and the Irish have been given status as white over time, while others, such as the descendants of the enslaved in America, Indigenous people and Mexicans who have been on this land far longer, never have. We will also look at the changing definition of whiteness in the United States over time, as well as how the current ramping up of ICE and anti-immigrant sentiment has affected those targeted. We will read sections of the book Working Towards Whiteness: How America’s Immigrants Became White by David Roediger as well as news articles and items on ICE’s impact on targeted communities. Those interested in participating are encouraged to purchase the book as soon as possible. If there is difficulty with this, please reach out to one of the contact person. If you have questions or to register, please contact wiw@dharma.net.
Sundays, monthly or bimonthly, 8:00 p.m.
Parents Together in Practice: Our intention is to create a (virtual) space for parents to come together to support each other in the Dharma and their everyday lives. We welcome people parenting children of all ages and members of all family structures and identities. For more details, please contact Rachael Seijo Nevins at raeraenevins@gmail.com. Click here to sign up.
Sundays, afternoon various programs
The Diamond Net: Sangha support in old age, sickness, and death
The inevitabilities of old age, sickness, and death are no different today than they were nearly 2500 years ago when the Buddha encountered them as a young prince. The Diamond Net aspires to address the needs of sangha members who are encountering difficult times with meetings each month as follows:
FEET ON THE GROUND meets on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 2:30 – 3:30 to offer updates on work that we’re doing and to give space for caring for caregivers and to offer support for those feeling lonely or disconnected. Do you have trouble getting to your practice center in person? Have you recently left residency? Join us for sangha connection. Register here.
GROWING THE GARDEN meets twice monthly to work on projects that will strengthen ties within our sangha.
DEATH CAFÉ meets for an informal zoom conversation about any aspect of death you’d like to explore. Register here.
EDUCATION & OUTREACH: workshops on pertinent topics such end of life, caring for caregivers, disability awareness, etc.
Contact diamondnet@dharma.net for schedule and zoom links, or visit our webpage by clicking here.
One-to-one Meetings with Teachers and Seniors
Hojin Sensei and Hogen Sensei are each meeting with their formal MRO Students over Zoom for face-to-face teaching. Students should already have signup instructions but if you would like assistance with this, please contact the registrar at registrar@dharma.net; 845-688-2228.
Hojin Sensei: Wednesdays 7:45-8:45 pm (by request)
Hogen Sensei: Sundays & Mondays 9:45-11:00 am (exceptions: prior to, and after ango sesshins)
One-to-one Meetings with Seniors
You may find it helpful to speak with a lay practitioner about tending to your practice or taking care of life’s challenges. Please email seniorstudents@dharma.net if interested and someone will get back to you. This opportunity is open to anyone who identifies as a sangha member, regardless of any formal affiliation. The following senior lay students are available for one-on-one phone or video calls. Feel free to mention by name the person you’d like to speak with, if you have a preference.
Chris Yudo Abraham, Michelle Seigei Spark, Katie Yosha Scott-Childress, Maureen Jisho Ford, Patrick Yunen Kelly, Prabu Gikon Vasan, Michael Chizen Brown, Sarah Taisho Sands.
