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, March 16, 2026 @ 6:15pm – 6:45 pm
Sunday, April 12, 2026 @ 8:30am – 9:00am
Featured Events
TEMPLE CLEANING AND ORYOKI TRAINING – Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM (In-person)
SESSHIN: OPENING THE SPRING PRACTICE PERIOD – Saturday, March 21, 2026 @ 7:00 PM – Sunday, March 22, 2026 @ 5:00 PM (Hybrid)
MONDAY EVENING ZAZEN, SHUSO INVITATION, AND PRACTICE DISCUSSION – Monday, March 23, 2026 @ 7:15 PM – 9:00 PM (Hybrid)Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Zhaozhou Meets Two Hermits
1273 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Douglas Floyd
Featured News
Registration Open: 2026 8-WEEK SPRING PRACTICE COMMITMENT PERIOD
Buddhist Practices for Caring for All Beings led by Rev. Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer
Sunday, March 22 – Sunday, May 17
Plan ahead to join your dragon dharma companions to commit to deepening your zen practice during this nonresidential, hybrid ango.
Please click here to learn more and to sign up.
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).
