Profile
The Zen Studies Society is a Buddhist community dedicated to realizing and actualizing our true nature. Cultivating an atmosphere of respect, harmony, deep insight, and boundless compassion, we offer simple yet profound teachings and practice of Zen Buddhism at our mountain monastery and our city temple.
Introducing Zen to the West
ZSS was established in 1956 to support the Buddhist scholar D.T. Suzuki in his efforts to introduce Zen to the West, and is one of the oldest Zen Buddhist organizations in the United States. New York Zendo Shobo-ji, an oasis of deep stillness in the heart of Manhattan, offers daily zazen and chanting services, monthly all-day sittings and weekend sesshin, Dharma talks, and other cultural offerings.
History of New York Zendo
NYZ opened its doors on September 15, 1968 as one of the first Rinzai Zen practice centers to be established in the United States, and remains one of the few Rinzai temples here. Abbot Shinge Roko Sherry Chayat Roshi began formal Zen practice in 1967. She was co-director of Dai Bosatsu Zendo from 1974 to 1976, and became the spiritual director of the Zen Center of Syracuse Hoen-ji, where she was appointed abbot in 1996.
On January 1, 2011, she was installed as abbot of the Zen Studies Society by the founding abbot, Eido Tai Shimano Roshi. Eido Roshi trained under Soen Nakagawa Roshi at Ryutaku-ji, Japan, before moving to the United States in the 1960's, where he was joined first by Hakuun Yasutani Roshi and later by Soen Nakagawa Roshi as visiting Zen masters. He established New York Zendo in 1968 and Dai Bosatsu Zendo in 1976.
Weekly Schedule
Mornings:
- Tuesdays through Fridays 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m.
- Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Morning Service
Evenings:
- Tuesdays 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tai chi class and Zazen zazen
- Thursdays 6:45 p.m. to 9 p.m. Intro to Zen zazen, temple cleaning, informal tea Meditation, zazen
- Fridays 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Zazen
