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Zazen, Zen Meditation, is the Center of our Practice and
Daily Life

The Spirit of Ryōkan

Lecture and Study Retreat with
Rev. Gyōkei Yokoyama

Fri. Oct. 11, 7pm – Lecture
Sat. Oct 12, 9am to 4pm – Retreat

Olympia Zen Center welcomes Rev. Gyōkei Yokoyama for this Sōtō Zen study event over two days. Rev. Gyōkei is Abbot of Sōzenji Temple, and Ambassador to American Sōtō Zen Temples. He has chosen to focus on the revered ancestor of our temple, poet and mendicant monk Ryōkan.

Read more and register here.

"The Way is originally perfect and all pervading. How could it be contingent upon practice and realization? The true vehicle is self-sufficient. What need is there for special effort?... And yet, if there is a hair's breadth deviation, it is like the gap between heaven and earth. "

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Eihei Dōgen Zenji

Founder of Sōtō Zen

Join us for practice

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Newcomer Orientation is offered on Wednesdays at 6:00pm. Stay informed by receiving our weekly email digest. Please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions:

director@olympiazencenter.org

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More About Our Practice

Zen sitting, Zazen, is our most important matter. All of our actions begin with the spiritual practice of Zazen which is the deepest form of prayer. We also hold ceremonies in which we chant, voicing the Buddhadharma.

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The Zafu

The Zafu cushion is used to sit quietly in meditation, but we also offer benches and chairs. This makes it suitable for all ages and abilities to experience profound and restorative silence as we sit together.

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Zendo and Dharma Hall

The Zendo, or Dharma hall is our sacred place of practice. A statue of the Buddha reminds us of the virtues advocated in Zen practice and exemplified by the Buddha and our two founders Eihei Dogen Zenji and Keizan Jokin Zenji.

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Zen Sitting Together

In this challenging and changing world, we come together to support one another as we sit in silence and strengthen our resolve to Awaken and serve life in the best way possible.

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"The moon and the earth are one
and myself one with them." 
                                             Ryokan
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