Profile
Empty Gate Zen Center provides Zen meditation instruction in Berkeley, Santa Clara, Monterey and Boise, Idaho within a kind and supportive environment. We offer a daily practice schedule and regular monthly retreats, as well as Dharma talks, and private interviews with our guiding teacher, Zen Master Bon Soeng (Jeff Kitzes). All of our programs are open to everyone, regardless of previous experience or background.
Since 1992, Empty Gate Zen Center has been led by Guiding Teacher Jeff Kitzes (Zen Master Bon Soeng). Jeff began practicing Zen in 1975, and began practicing with Zen Master Seung Sahn in 1979. In December of 1992, Jeff received inka, authorization to teach kong-ans (koans). In 2001, he received dharma transmission from Zen Master Seung Sahn and was given the name Bon Soeng which means “Original Nature.” Jeff is also a licensed psychotherapist in private practice, specializing in the integration of Zen Buddhism and Western Psychotherapy.
