
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
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP (ONLINE) – Friday February 7, 2025 @ 7:00 PM
SEMINAR BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON: DONGSHAN’S SONG OF THE JEWEL MIRROR SAMADHI – Saturday February 8, 2025 @ 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Online Seminar taught by Ancient Dragon Zen Gate emeritus guiding teacher Taigen Dan Leighton. We will discuss the “Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi” (Hokyo Zammai) by Dongshan Liangjie.
HALF-DAY SITTING LED BY EISHIN NANCY EASTON – Sunday, February 16, 2025 @ 7:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Moving with the Breath
ADZG 1223 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer
Featured News
ONLINE ONLY FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY 2025:
THURSDAY MORNING ZAZEN AND DHARMA WITH HOGETSU WILL NOT MEET IN PERSON THIS MONTH AND WILL BE OFFERED ONLY ONLINE. REGULAR HYBRID MEETINGS RESUME IN MARCH 2024
SAVE THE DATE: 2025 SPRING PRACTICE COMMITMENT PERIOD LED BY HOGETSU LAURIE BELZER
COMPASSION’S WAY: THE DHARMA OF 3 AMERICAN ZEN ANCESTORS
Sunday March 23, 2025 – Sunday May 18, 2025
Ancient Dragon’s annual 8-week nonresidential practice period will study the dharma modern American zen teachers, Joko Beck, Darlene Cohen, and Blanche Hartman. Participants will create practice schedules that work with their life circumstances, yet enhance their commitment to zazen, dharma study, and sangha practice. Registration and events details will be posted soon on our website.
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.
NEW GROUP: ZEN CREATIVES – BIWEEKLY THURSDAYS @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM (ONLINE)
If you are interested in exploring your creative work, start or solidify a creative practice with others on a similar path, please consider joining this expedition into finding grounded creativity with
Buddhism. Just show up in the Dragon Online Zendo or contact Anastasia McRae at info@ancientdragon.org
ANCIENT DRAGON PUBLIC HEALTH 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.

The daughter of our sangha priest, Gyoshin Laurel Ross and many dear dragon friends and sangha live in LA with their safety and well being threatened by the wildfires. The truth of our interbeing is clear and our hearts are with those struggling in Los Angeles at this time. Here are two resources recommended by Gyoshin:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1wnjirUcgYcqAOoTQ2me2X1m4Ejyszi6sfdUZR5jKdYQ/edit?usp=sharing
