Profile
One River Zen is a Sōtō Zen Buddhist temple and practice community in Ottawa, Illinois, rooted in the traditional teachings and practices of Zen while fully engaged with contemporary life.
Our community offers regular zazen, morning service, Dharma talks, classes, retreats, workshops, and opportunities for deeper study and practice. Our approach emphasizes bringing Zen beyond the meditation cushion and into the whole of our lives: our relationships, work, creativity, service, and encounters with suffering.
One River Zen is led by founding teacher and Abbot Sensei Sōen Michael Brunner, a transmitted teacher in the lineage of Dainin Katagiri Roshi through Rev. Dr. Sojun Diane Martin Roshi. Our practice is grounded in the Sōtō Zen tradition and shaped by a simple commitment: to meet life directly, include everything, and transform suffering through wisdom and compassion.
Whether you are encountering Zen for the first time or have practiced for many years, you are welcome to sit, study, and practice with us.
