ZCNYC Retreats

Upcoming Retreats at Zen Center of New York City

Explore Zen Center of New York City through one of our upcoming retreats. Please don’t let financial issues prevent you from attending a program at the ZCNYC. All programs are offered on a sliding scale. If you are unable to pay the full amount, please offer what you can. You will be given an option on the registration page.
If you are looking for retreats at the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mount Tremper NY, click here.

Upcoming ZCNYC Retreats

Half-Day Sit – January

January 25, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Zen Essentials — Studying the Self: The Challenge

with Mn. Gokan Bonebakker

January 30, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
Everyone experiences times when it is difficult to keep a steady practice going due to strong emotions, a restless or agitated mind, or feelings of apathy or complacency. We can also face obstacles that come from daily life. In this session we'll explore our work, family or other obligations, and how in facing these perceived obstacles, with wisdom and honesty, we […]

Qi Gong: Embracing the Cold and Transforming It to Vitality

with Paul Bloom

February 1, 2020
Winter is the season for the Kidneys, and water is the element associated with the Kidneys.  During the winter, we conserve and build up the power and energy of the water below the ice, which in spring becomes the thrusting upward of the Liver/Wood energy, as trees burst through the frozen ground.  The Kidney energy […]

Zazenkai – February

with Ron Hogen Green, Sensei

February 15, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
Zazenkai presents us with an opportunity to return to the well of introspection and committed Zen practice. Each day includes an extended schedule of zazen, liturgy, face-to-face interview with a teacher or dharma holder, a formal talk and oryoki lunch (formal meal served in the zendo). Zazenkai is an important way for experienced students to […]

Half-Day Sit – February

with Ron Hogen Green, Sensei

February 29, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Sesshin

with Ron Hogen Green, Sensei

March 5 - 8, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
Characterized by silence and deep introspection, sesshin is recommended to anyone who is sincerely interested in experiencing intensive Zen training. We wake up each day before dawn to begin a schedule that includes 7 to 10 hours of zazen, chanting services, formal silent meals in the zendo (oryoki) […]

Softening the Heart: Naikan – The Japanese Art of Self-Reflection

with Gregg Kretch

March 14, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
As we get older, it is natural for many of our body parts to soften and sag.  The exception, in some cases, is our heart, which may harden. Most of us hope that our hearts will soften, but too often they are as hard as granite. They harden when we encounter others with disappointment, criticism, […]

Zazenkai – March

with Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei

March 21, 2020
Zazenkai presents us with an opportunity to return to the well of introspection and committed Zen practice. Each day includes an extended schedule of zazen, liturgy, face-to-face interview with a teacher or dharma holder, a formal talk and oryoki lunch (formal meal served in the zendo). Zazenkai is an important way for experienced students to […]

Half-Day Sit – March

with Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei

March 28, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

One Dharma: Perfection and Imperfection

with Ron Hogen Green, Sensei

April 4, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
What is perfection? What is imperfection? Sometimes in Buddhism we speak of our imperfections and delusions, yet will also say that delusion and enlightenment are one. How can this be? How do you understand your imperfections, your mistakes, your delusion? How do you understand your wholeness, your original completeness? In the morning we will focus […]

An Evening of Poems from the First Buddhist Women (Therigatha)

with Jody Hojin Kimmel, Sensei

April 16, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
The Indian master Shantideva said we should rejoice in our aspiration to awaken. It is our great good fortune to have encountered the Dharma, to have access to teachers, and to have a desire to practice. Having set out on the path - whether we've been practicing for years or just taken a few first […]

Half-Day Sit – April

April 25, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

What is most important? Tending to the Way-Seeking Mind

with Mn. Gokan Bonebakker

May 16, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
The Indian master Shantideva said we should rejoice in our aspiration to awaken. It is our great good fortune to have encountered the Dharma, to have access to teachers, and to have a desire to practice. Having set out on the path - whether we've been practicing for years or just taken a few first […]

The Shape of Awake: A Posture Clinic for Meditators

with Hope Martin

May 23, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
In this one day workshop Hope, who is a master teacher of the Alexander Technique, will offer both verbal and hands-on instruction to help you develop ease and non-striving in meditation and other activities. Through Hope's hands-on work, making subtle adjustments to the relationship between the head, neck, and back, you'll learn to access effortless, balanced posture—light and grounded. The process teaches awareness of habits that result in pain, fixed posture and mind-set, and teaches the skill of shifting on the spot to a more open, balanced way of being. […]

Half-Day Sit – May

May 30, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Money and Mindfulness

with Christian McEwen

June 6, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
"If money talks, it is with our voice." Lynne Twist Traditional Buddhism says we should give “courteously, happily, quickly and without regret.” But this is not always so easy. Money remains one of the trickiest of subjects to address, even among longtime practitioners. Join us as we explore our personal money stories through reading, writing and discussion combined with guided meditation. Our […]

Half-Day Sit – June

June 27, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Half-Day Sit – July

July 25, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Half-Day Sit – August

August 29, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Half-Day Sit – September

September 26, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Half-Day Sit – October

October 24, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]

Half-Day Sit – November

November 21, 2020
Zen Center of New York City
These short zazen intensives are popular with those new to Zen practice or meditation, as well as more experienced students. The morning offers a time of silence and stillness and provides an excellent way to explore and deepen one’s zazen. The retreat will be introduced and concluded with dharma words of encouragement. […]