Soto Zen Buddhist Meditation in Chicago
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is a community of engaged buddhist practitioners committed to Soto Zen meditation practice in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi and is a Branching Stream of San Francisco Zen Center. Our meditation practice, zazen, is cultivated for the benefit of all life and our great earth.
We endeavour to create a welcoming practice community in Chicago and online that is a refuge and support for showing up in our lives with the awakened awareness and creative vitality that flow from zen meditation.
COME SIT WITH US! Everyone is welcome to attend any of our in-person, online, and hybrid regular meditation practice events. To get acquainted, you are warmly invited to request personal meditation instruction and temple orientation.
Featured Events
PRACTICING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS SEMINAR SERIES WITH HOGETSU LAURIE BELZER – Thursday, October 10, 2024 @ 7:30 PM – 8:45 PM
Hogetsu Laurie Belzer is leading a six-week seminar on the Bodhisattva Precepts starting this Thursday, October 10. The seminar will meet every Thursday from 7:30 – 8:45 PM for six weeks. All are welcome to register for the complete series or drop in for one session; the seminar will be held online only in our Online Zendo. Please see the event page for more information and to register.
SEMINAR BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON: DOGEN’S EXPRESSING THE DREAM WITHIN THE DREAM – Saturday, October 12, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Seminar held by our emeritus guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton,in which will be discussed the stimulating essay “Expressing the Dream Within the Dream” (Muchu Setsumu) by Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), founder of Japanese Soto Zen. This seminar will be offered in our Online Zendo. Please register for this seminar using the form on the event page. Suggested donation is $50, but sliding scale available to all, less or more is welcome. All are invited regardless of insufficient funds.
SUNDAY MORNING ZAZEN AND DHARMA TALK BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON – Sunday, October 13, 2024 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
This coming Sunday’s dharma talk will be given by our guiding teacher emeritus, Reverend Taigen Dan Leighton. All are welcome to attend in our Lincoln Square Zendo or online in our Online Zendo.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Reflections on the Five Remembrances
ADZG 1206 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Eishin Nancy Easton
Featured News
SEMINAR ON PRACTICING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS
Our guiding teacher, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, will lead a six-week seminar on practicing the Bodhisattva precepts on Thursday evenings beginning October 10. Please see our calendar listing for more information and to register for the seminar.
NEW WEEKLY WEDNESDAY EVENING SITTING
Starting on Wednesday, September 25, Ancient Dragon will offer a new weekly Wednesday evening sitting in-person only at our Lincoln Square Zendo. The sitting will consist of two 25-minute periods of zazen followed by the recitation of the Pali refgues. See our website calendar for more information – we hope you can join us!
ANCIENT DRAGON COVID RECOMMENDATIONS
Respiratory virus season is upon us!! If you think you are ill or have a recent exposure, please attend online. In the zendo, we will be opening windows, so please dress in layers and follow CDC protocol in this infographic (click to enlarge). Also, please see our COVID recommendations here compiled by sangha member Chris Cadman as part of our Sangha Care Committee.
ANCIENT DRAGON SEEKING NEW WEBMASTER
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is looking for a new webmaster to update the content on our WordPress website and monitor event registrations. The webmaster position includes a small monthly stipend. Please email info@ancientdragon.org or speak to Hōgetsu for more information.
TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON’S CONTINUED TEACHING
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, continues to offer his dharma in many offerings. See the Taigen’s Seminars page for an updated list of seminars offered at Ancient Dragon and elsewhere. As well, click here to visit Taigen’s website, containing a rich library of his offerings.
Featured Events
PRACTICING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS SEMINAR SERIES WITH HOGETSU LAURIE BELZER – Thursday, October 10, 2024 @ 7:30 PM – 8:45 PM
Hogetsu Laurie Belzer is leading a six-week seminar on the Bodhisattva Precepts starting this Thursday, October 10. The seminar will meet every Thursday from 7:30 – 8:45 PM for six weeks. All are welcome to register for the complete series or drop in for one session; the seminar will be held online only in our Online Zendo. Please see the event page for more information and to register.
SEMINAR BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON: DOGEN’S EXPRESSING THE DREAM WITHIN THE DREAM – Saturday, October 12, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Seminar held by our emeritus guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton,in which will be discussed the stimulating essay “Expressing the Dream Within the Dream” (Muchu Setsumu) by Eihei Dogen (1200-1253), founder of Japanese Soto Zen. This seminar will be offered in our Online Zendo. Please register for this seminar using the form on the event page. Suggested donation is $50, but sliding scale available to all, less or more is welcome. All are invited regardless of insufficient funds.
SUNDAY MORNING ZAZEN AND DHARMA TALK BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON – Sunday, October 13, 2024 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
This coming Sunday’s dharma talk will be given by our guiding teacher emeritus, Reverend Taigen Dan Leighton. All are welcome to attend in our Lincoln Square Zendo or online in our Online Zendo.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Reflections on the Five Remembrances
ADZG 1206 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Eishin Nancy Easton
Featured News
SEMINAR ON PRACTICING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS
Our guiding teacher, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, will lead a six-week seminar on practicing the Bodhisattva precepts on Thursday evenings beginning October 10. Please see our calendar listing for more information and to register for the seminar.
NEW WEEKLY WEDNESDAY EVENING SITTING
Starting on Wednesday, September 25, Ancient Dragon will offer a new weekly Wednesday evening sitting in-person only at our Lincoln Square Zendo. The sitting will consist of two 25-minute periods of zazen followed by the recitation of the Pali refgues. See our website calendar for more information – we hope you can join us!
ANCIENT DRAGON COVID RECOMMENDATIONS
Respiratory virus season is upon us!! If you think you are ill or have a recent exposure, please attend online. In the zendo, we will be opening windows, so please dress in layers and follow CDC protocol in this infographic (click to enlarge). Also, please see our COVID recommendations here compiled by sangha member Chris Cadman as part of our Sangha Care Committee.
ANCIENT DRAGON SEEKING NEW WEBMASTER
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is looking for a new webmaster to update the content on our WordPress website and monitor event registrations. The webmaster position includes a small monthly stipend. Please email info@ancientdragon.org or speak to Hōgetsu for more information.
TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON’S CONTINUED TEACHING
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, continues to offer his dharma in many offerings. See the Taigen’s Seminars page for an updated list of seminars offered at Ancient Dragon and elsewhere. As well, click here to visit Taigen’s website, containing a rich library of his offerings.
