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 online zendo to learn meditation before our regular program. Please email info@ancientdragon.org
ANCIENT DRAGON ZEN GATE CLOSED; IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ZEN PROGRAMS CONTINUE
Due to the ongoing pandemic and safety concerns, we made the difficult decision to shut the doors to our temple. The Irving Park Road temple will no longer serve the community as a practice place. Instead, meetings have moved online. Ancient Dragon plans to conduct monthly in-person practice opportunities, with the option of attending through our online zendo. Our many active Ancient Dragon programs will continue to meet through Zoom in our online zendo. Please see our calendar, the Sangha Events section, and the Meditation Events sections of this site for news about upcoming events. In order to address concerns regarding COVID, participants who attend events in person must comply with Ancient Dragon’s ADZG In-Person Event Policy and with any additional requirements contained in the registration form for the event or communicated by the Sangha leader for the event. We look forward to locating a suitable new space for our Chicago temple when safety from the pandemic allows.
While the Ancient Dragon temple is closed, Guiding Dharma Teacher Taigen Dan Leighton will be available for dokusan by telephone or zoom, as will Dharma Teachers Nyozan Eric Shutt, Eishin Nancy Easton, and Visiting Dharma Teacher Zengyu Paul Discoe. Please send requests for dokusan to our info@ancientdragon.org
Finally, our Sangha Care Committee provides and facilitates support for Sangha members and their loved ones. We view caring for our community as an opportunity of mutual benefit, a chance to live out our Bodhisattva precepts and to realize our interconnectedness as beings. Challenging times during which the Sangha Care Committee could be of support include times of illness, grief, or hardship. Examples of support include our Dharma Buddies Program, support during times of illness or hospitalization, and mobilization of sangha resources and mutual aid. Please contact sanghacare@ancientdragon.org to be in touch.
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
Work, Essential Work, and Actualizing the Fundamental Point
ADZG 927 ADZG Monday Night Dharma Talk by Levi Smith
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.
Turn around the light to shine within, then just return.
Featured Events
HAIKU NATURE WALK – Saturday, September 25, 2021 @ 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Gyoshin Laurel Ross will lead nature walks to introduce people to writing haiku. All of the walls will be in natural areas and parks on Chicago’s northside. There is no fee for these walks, but contributions to Ancient Dragon are welcomed. Registration is required to limit the group size to 12. To register, email Gyoshin at laurelmross@gmail.com.
DAYLONG MEDITATION RETREAT HELD IN-PERSON AND ONLINE BY REV. SHUDO PAULA LAZARZ – Sunday, September 26, 2021 @ 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
We will gather to sit in silent meditation in our pop-up physical zendo @ 1329 N Larrabee 2nd Floor Chicago 60610 and in Zoomspace. Although partial attendance options are available, you are encouraged to join for the entire day. Registration required by September 21, 2021. Suggested donation is $75.00, or by self-determined sliding scale – please contribute any amount that works for you. Click the event link to register and for more information.
DOGEN’S LINK OF ENVIRONMENT AND DEVOTION: SEMINAR BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON – Sunday, October 3, 2021 @ 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Online Seminar by Taigen Leighton on Dogen’s teachings about our Environment and its Awakening capacity, and how Dogen links Environment to Devotional practice. Click the event link for more information and to register. $50 suggested donation, sliding scale available.
Featured News
RECENT BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS AVAILABLE
Highlights from our recent board meeting on August 22 are now available to read here. You can also check out past highlights on our Board Meeting Highlights page.
KAZ TANAHASHI CHICAGO PERFORMANCE
Kaz Tanahashi, zen poet, artist, translator, and good friend of our guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton, will participate in the premiere of “A Brush With Our Time”, a multimedia piece in collaboration with Fourth Coast Ensemble, the Chicago-based vocal ensemble, at the Newberry Library on Sunday, September 19. Info and a link to purchase tickets can be found here.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOMAS CLEARY
Our guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton has written a short remembrance for Thomas Cleary, a prolific translator of many important Buddhist texts, who died on June 20. Taigen’s remembrance can be found here, as well as on Taigen’s Articles page.
Check out our Sangha News page to look at older news items previously featured here.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
Sangha Calendar
Daylong Meditation Retreat Held In-Person and Online led by Rev. Shudo Paula Lazarz
Monday Morning Online Zazen with Douglas Floyd
Zen Meditation and Dharma Talk by Douglas Floyd
Tuesday Morning Online Zazen with David Wray
Meditation and Recovery Online
Donate when shopping at AmazonSmile!
Every little bit helps! Amazon will contribute a small percentage of your purchase when choose us, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate NFP, when you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/41-2219998.
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.
ANCIENT DRAGON ZEN GATE CLOSED; IN-PERSON AND ONLINE ZEN PROGRAMS CONTINUE
Due to the ongoing pandemic and safety concerns, we made the difficult decision to shut the doors to our temple. The Irving Park Road temple will no longer serve the community as a practice place. Instead, meetings have moved online. Ancient Dragon plans to conduct monthly in-person practice opportunities, with the option of attending through our online zendo. Our many active Ancient Dragon programs will continue to meet through Zoom in our online zendo. Please see our calendar, the Sangha Events section, and the Meditation Events sections of this site for news about upcoming events. In order to address concerns regarding COVID, participants who attend events in person must comply with Ancient Dragon’s ADZG In-Person Event Policy and with any additional requirements contained in the registration form for the event or communicated by the Sangha leader for the event. We look forward to locating a suitable new space for our Chicago temple when safety from the pandemic allows.
While the Ancient Dragon temple is closed, Guiding Dharma Teacher Taigen Dan Leighton will be available for dokusan by telephone or zoom, as will Dharma Teachers Nyozan Eric Shutt, Eishin Nancy Easton, and Visiting Dharma Teacher Zengyu Paul Discoe. Please send requests for dokusan to our info@ancientdragon.org
Finally, our Sangha Care Committee provides and facilitates support for Sangha members and their loved ones. We view caring for our community as an opportunity of mutual benefit, a chance to live out our Bodhisattva precepts and to realize our interconnectedness as beings. Challenging times during which the Sangha Care Committee could be of support include times of illness, grief, or hardship. Examples of support include our Dharma Buddies Program, support during times of illness or hospitalization, and mobilization of sangha resources and mutual aid. Please contact sanghacare@ancientdragon.org to be in touch.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episodes
Work, Essential Work, and Actualizing the Fundamental Point
ADZG 927 ADZG Monday Night Dharma Talk by Levi Smith
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
HAIKU NATURE WALK – Saturday, September 25, 2021 @ 9:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Gyoshin Laurel Ross will lead nature walks to introduce people to writing haiku. All of the walls will be in natural areas and parks on Chicago’s northside. There is no fee for these walks, but contributions to Ancient Dragon are welcomed. Registration is required to limit the group size to 12. To register, email Gyoshin at laurelmross@gmail.com.
DAYLONG MEDITATION RETREAT HELD IN-PERSON AND ONLINE BY REV. SHUDO PAULA LAZARZ – Sunday, September 26, 2021 @ 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM
We will gather to sit in silent meditation in our pop-up physical zendo @ 1329 N Larrabee 2nd Floor Chicago 60610 and in Zoomspace. Although partial attendance options are available, you are encouraged to join for the entire day. Registration required by September 21, 2021. Suggested donation is $75.00, or by self-determined sliding scale – please contribute any amount that works for you. Click the event link to register and for more information.
DOGEN’S LINK OF ENVIRONMENT AND DEVOTION: SEMINAR BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON – Sunday, October 3, 2021 @ 1:00 PM – 4:30 PM
Online Seminar by Taigen Leighton on Dogen’s teachings about our Environment and its Awakening capacity, and how Dogen links Environment to Devotional practice. Click the event link for more information and to register. $50 suggested donation, sliding scale available.
Featured News
RECENT BOARD MEETING HIGHLIGHTS AVAILABLE
Highlights from our recent board meeting on August 22 are now available to read here. You can also check out past highlights on our Board Meeting Highlights page.
KAZ TANAHASHI CHICAGO PERFORMANCE
Kaz Tanahashi, zen poet, artist, translator, and good friend of our guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton, will participate in the premiere of “A Brush With Our Time”, a multimedia piece in collaboration with Fourth Coast Ensemble, the Chicago-based vocal ensemble, at the Newberry Library on Sunday, September 19. Info and a link to purchase tickets can be found here.
IN REMEMBRANCE OF THOMAS CLEARY
Our guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton has written a short remembrance for Thomas Cleary, a prolific translator of many important Buddhist texts, who died on June 20. Taigen’s remembrance can be found here, as well as on Taigen’s Articles page.
Check out our Sangha News page to look at older news items previously featured here.
Sangha Calendar
Daylong Meditation Retreat Held In-Person and Online led by Rev. Shudo Paula Lazarz
Monday Morning Online Zazen with Douglas Floyd
Zen Meditation and Dharma Talk by Douglas Floyd
Tuesday Morning Online Zazen with David Wray
Meditation and Recovery Online
ARCHIVAL TALKS
Donate when shopping at AmazonSmile!
Every little bit helps! Amazon will contribute a small percentage of your purchase when choose us, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate NFP, when you shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/41-2219998.
