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
Monday, April 20, 2026 @ 6:15pm – 6:45pm
Sunday, May 10, 2026 @ 8:30am – 9:00am
Featured Events
TEMPLE SPRING CLEANING WORK DAY – Saturday, April 18, 2026 @ 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM (In-person) 
SUNDAY MORNING ZAZEN AND SHUSO TALK ON ZAZEN – Sunday, April 19, 2026 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM (Hybrid)
SANGHA BIRD & NATURE WALK AT WEST RIDGE PARK – Saturday, April 25, 2026 @ 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM (In-person)Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Practices That Flower Into Garlands of Beneficial Blessings
1278 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Rev. Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer
Featured News
REGISTRATION OPEN – Three-Day Sesshin led by Hogetsu: Closing the Spring Practice Period
May 14 – 17, 2026
Registration is open for the three-day sesshin which closes out our Spring Practice Period. The sesshin will start the evening of Thursday, May 14 with temple cleaning and oryoki training followed by orientation, zazen and chanting the refuges. All are welcome to register regardless of participation in the Spring Practice Period. For more information, please click the link above.
SAVE THE DATE: SANGHA WEEK AT 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).
