Soto Zen Buddhist Meditation in Chicago
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is a community of practitioners committed to Soto Zen Buddhist meditation practice in Chicago, and now online to many distant practitioners. Our guiding teacher is Taigen Dan Leighton, author, scholar, and Dharma teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki. We invite you to read his teachings or listen to audio recordings of Dharma talks by Taigen and many others. Sunday mornings we welcome brand new visitors to attend our Lincoln Square Zendo in person, or in our Online Zendo via Zoom to learn meditation before our regular program. Click our “New to Zen?” button above for more information. Click here to read our updated COVID policy for attending in-person events.
Click the Online Zendo button above to enter our online zendo via ZOOM. Please bow to the camera when entering or becoming visible on Zoom, but then do not face the screen directly during zazen.
Please refer to our calendar for a complete schedule of services and events in our online zendo. As well, please refer to our Online Zendo page for instructions on accessing the room.
Featured Podcasts: Buddhism in Kamakura Japan
Click here to learn more about some recent dharma talks given by our guiding teacher, Taigen Dan Leighton, about key buddhist figures in Kamakura-era Japan.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episodes
Romp and Play in Samadhi
ADZG 1180 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Taigen Dan Leighton
Featured Events
TEMPLE SPRING CLEANING – Sunday, April 28, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Annual spring cleaning for our Lincoln Square Zendo. All are welcome to attend, regardless of participation in our Spring Practice Period.
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP – Friday, May 3, 2024 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This reading group is open to all. We will be reading aloud together the classic expansive and psychedelic Mahayana Buddhist text, Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Ornament Sutra). Participants are not expected to purchase this text and are welcome to drop in for any reading group gathering. Participants will also be invited to sit for optional seated meditation at each gathering. There is no registration or fee to attend, but donations are welcome.
PRACTICE COMMITMENT PERIOD DISCUSSION GROUP – Sunday, May 5, 2024 @ 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Discussion group for the 2024 Spring Practice Period, led by Taigen. This group discussion will be online-only in our Online Zendo for registered PCP participants.
Featured News
REV. EIJUN LINDA RUTH CUTTS TALK ON DOGEN’S WRITINGS ABOUT WOMEN
As part of the SZBA’s series talks on women in Buddhism, Rev. Eijun Linda Rugh Cutts will be giving a talk about Dogen’s writings on women. The talk will take place on Saturday, May 11, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM EST. Please click here to register.
SAVE THE DATE – TRANSITION CEREMONY FOR TAIGEN AND HOGETSU
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate warmly invites our community for a Guiding Dharma Teacher Transition Celebration honoring Taigen Dan Leighton and Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 10:15 AM. More information on joining us in person, or online @ our ADZG zoom-cloud zendo will be sent out soon!
ANCIENT DRAGON ZEN GATE SANGHA WEEK AT GREEN GULCH FARM
Ancient Dragon has been given the opportunity to bring a small group to Green Gulch Farm from August 21-26 for a sangha week. Please see this informational flyer for more information. If you are interested in attending and participating, please contact Hogetsu at info@ancientdragon.org as soon as possible as space will fill up and the trip requires some advanced planning.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
Florence Caplow (11/4/2019) – Ferocious Grandmothers
Hakusho Ostlund (7/18/2016) – I Sit Therefore I Sit
Click the Online Zendo button above to enter our online zendo via ZOOM. Please bow to the camera when entering or becoming visible on Zoom, but then do not face the screen directly during zazen.
Please refer to our calendar for a complete schedule of services and events in our online zendo. As well, please refer to our Online Zendo page for instructions on accessing the room.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episodes
Romp and Play in Samadhi
ADZG 1180 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Taigen Dan Leighton
Featured Podcasts: Buddhism in Kamakura Japan
Click here to learn more about some recent dharma talks given by our guiding teacher, Taigen Dan Leighton, about key buddhist figures in Kamakura-era Japan.
Featured Events
TEMPLE SPRING CLEANING – Sunday, April 28, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Annual spring cleaning for our Lincoln Square Zendo. All are welcome to attend, regardless of participation in our Spring Practice Period.
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP – Friday, May 3, 2024 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This reading group is open to all. We will be reading aloud together the classic expansive and psychedelic Mahayana Buddhist text, Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Ornament Sutra). Participants are not expected to purchase this text and are welcome to drop in for any reading group gathering. Participants will also be invited to sit for optional seated meditation at each gathering. There is no registration or fee to attend, but donations are welcome.
PRACTICE COMMITMENT PERIOD DISCUSSION GROUP – Sunday, May 5, 2024 @ 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Discussion group for the 2024 Spring Practice Period, led by Taigen. This group discussion will be online-only in our Online Zendo for registered PCP participants.
Featured News
REV. EIJUN LINDA RUTH CUTTS TALK ON DOGEN’S WRITINGS ABOUT WOMEN
As part of the SZBA’s series talks on women in Buddhism, Rev. Eijun Linda Rugh Cutts will be giving a talk about Dogen’s writings on women. The talk will take place on Saturday, May 11, from 3:30 – 5:00 PM EST. Please click here to register.
SAVE THE DATE – TRANSITION CEREMONY FOR TAIGEN AND HOGETSU
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate warmly invites our community for a Guiding Dharma Teacher Transition Celebration honoring Taigen Dan Leighton and Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at 10:15 AM. More information on joining us in person, or online @ our ADZG zoom-cloud zendo will be sent out soon!
ANCIENT DRAGON ZEN GATE SANGHA WEEK AT GREEN GULCH FARM
Ancient Dragon has been given the opportunity to bring a small group to Green Gulch Farm from August 21-26 for a sangha week. Please see this informational flyer for more information. If you are interested in attending and participating, please contact Hogetsu at info@ancientdragon.org as soon as possible as space will fill up and the trip requires some advanced planning.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
Florence Caplow (11/4/2019) – Ferocious Grandmothers
Hakusho Ostlund (7/18/2016) – I Sit Therefore I Sit
