Profile
Houston Zen Center is a Soto Zen meditation Center in the Historic Heights district of Houston, Texas. The Abbot, teachers and leaders of the Center are trained in the Soto Zen tradition, in the lineage of Suzuki Shunryu Roshi, the founder of San Francisco Zen Center.
Events and Hours
The membership and participants are very diverse, coming from all faith traditions and joining the various activities at the Center in ways that work for their lives and schedules. The Center is open for meditation at regular hours every day except Friday. The weekend program on Sunday includes meditation, dharma talks, care of the temple and social gatherings. Everyone is welcome to the weekend programs as well as the daily meditation schedule. Weekend meditation as well as daily meditation is offered at no charge.
Monday to Thursday morning:
- 5:50 a.m. Zazen
- 6:30 a.m. Kinhin (walking)
- 6:40 a.m. Zazen
- 7:10 a.m. Chanting
- 7:15 a.m. End of Program
Monday to Thursday evening:
- 5:30 p.m. to 6:10 p.m. Zazen
Saturday morning:
- 8:20 a.m. Zazen
- 9:00 a.m. End of Zazen
Sunday morning program (you may attend all or part of the Sunday program):
- 8:20 a.m. Chanting and bows
- 8:45 a.m. Newcomers’ arrival
- 8:50 a.m. Zazen Meditation
- 9:20 a.m. Soji Temple Cleaning
- 9:45 a.m. Dharma Talk (followed by tea & refreshments)
Sunday evening:
- 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Zazen
Sesshin, retreats and special events led by HZC teachers as well as visiting teachers are offered throughout the year. Classes on introductory as well as advanced Zen topics are offered throughout the year. Most classes are 6-week series at modest prices. Abbot Setsuan Gaelyn Godwin is a Zen priest and a Dharma successor in the lineage of Suzuki Roshi. Two other Zen priests help lead the Center, as well as four Dharma Entrusted lay Zen teachers. Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi leads a yearly retreat at the Center.
