Soto Zen Buddhist Meditation in Chicago
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is a community of zen buddhist practitioners in the American Soto Zen tradition of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi. Our sangha is a Branching Stream of San Francisco Zen Center. Our zen meditation practice, zazen (just sitting meditation), is cultivated for the benefit of all life and for our great earth. Our collective practice is offered as a refuge and support for showing up in our lives with the awakened awareness, wise compassion, and creative vitality that flow from zen meditation.
We endeavor to create a welcoming practice community in Chicago and online.
COME SIT WITH US!
Everyone is welcome to attend any of our onsite, online, and hybrid regular meditation practice events.
To get acquainted, you are warmly invited to request personal meditation instruction and temple orientation, or if you wish, just drop in for zazen.
Explore the Path: MEDITATION INSTRUCTION & TEMPLE ORIENTATION
Onsite – To register: email info@ancientdragon.org
Sunday, June 14, 2026 @ 8:30am – 9:00am
Monday, June 15, 2026 @ 6:15pm – 6:45pm
Featured Events
HUAYAN SCHOOL STUDY GROUP – Thursday, June 4, 2026 @ 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Online)
This is a new study group, led by our guiding teacher emeritus Taigen, which will study the Huayan School, the Chinese school focused on teachings of the Avatamsaka Sutra. All are welcome to attend, no prior experience necessary. The group will meet online-only, twice monthly on Thursdays through the end of September. Suggested donation is $10/class, sliding scale available. Click here for more information.
SUNDAY MORNING ZAZEN, SANGHA MEETING, AND POTLUCK – Sunday, June 7, 2026 @ 9:30 AM – 2:00 PM (Hybrid)
For this morning’s program, in lieu of a dharma talk we will host a sangha meeting, led by board president Yana and business admin Mike, reporting on the state of temple affairs and inquiring about the pulse of the sangha. The meeting will be preceded by a period of zazen. Following the meeting, we will have a potluck lunch. All are welcome to bring a dish – please let our tenzo Wade know what you will bring. All are welcome to join us in-person and online!
LGBTQIA + DHARMA GROUP – Thursday, June 11, 2026 @ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM (Hybrid)
Monthly meeting of our Queer Dharma Group, held hybrid in our Lincoln Square Zendo and online in our Online Zendo. For more information, email info@ancientdragon.org.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Shuso: Leadership as a caring practice
1284 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Rev. Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer
Featured News
SEMINAR BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON: DOGEN’S EXTENSIVE RECORD, PART 2
Saturday, June 13, 2026 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Part 2 of a 2-part seminar on Dogen’s Extensive Record, led by our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton. For more information about the seminar, and to register, click here.
SIGN UP OPEN: SANGHA WEEK AT SFZC’s GREEN GULCH FARM
August 19 – 23, 2026
Ancient Dragon has been given the opportunity to return to Green Gulch Farm near San Francisco for a sangha week this summer. Please click here for more information. If you are interested, please speak to Hogetsu or email info@ancientdragon.org as soon as possible as the trip requires some planning.
TAIGEN’S TEACHINGS
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen, continues to offer his dharma.
Click here to see Taigen’s page and his many dharma offerings.
ANCIENT DRAGON PUBLIC HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS
Flu and respiratory virus season is here! If you think you are ill or have a recent exposure to virus, please attend online. Germs spread easily in group settings and when in doubt, join online, In the zendo, we will be opening windows, so please dress in layers and follow CDC protocol in this infographic (click to enlarge).
