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
NOW INDOORS: DAYLONG SESSHIN LED BY EISHIN NANCY EASTON – Sunday, July 28, 2024 @ 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
VENUE MOVED INDOORS @ LS Zendo. Due to weather, our sesshin will occur at the ADZG temple and hybrid participation is welcome.
Click here to register for the event – please register by Monday, July 22.
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP – Friday, August 2, 2024 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This reading group, open to all, will be reading aloud together the classic expansive and psychedelic Mahayana Buddhist text, Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Ornament Sutra). Participants are not expected to purchase this text and are welcome to drop in for any reading group gathering.
ONLINE SEMINAR LED BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON: FUKANZAZENGI – Saturday, August 10, 2024 @ 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Seminar led by our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi. The seminar is online and is hosted by San Francisco Zen Center – please see the event link for information about the event and how to register.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Releasing the compassion body, planting the treasure seed
ADZG 1200 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Hōgetsu Laurie Belzer
Featured News
ALL EVENTS NOW INDOORS AT LS ZENDO: SUNDAY JULY 28,2024
Sunday Community Hybrid Program Dharma Talk by Eishin
DAYLONG SESSHIN LED BY EISHIN NANCY EASTON is now also available HYBRID
Due to weather, our SUNDAY PROGRAM and SESSHIN will be held at our Lincoln Square temple and online zendo on Sunday July 28, 2024.
Please join us for 9:30 zazen and dharma talk by Eishin, or sit with us longer and register for the now-hybrid sesshin.
LINCOLN SQUARE ZENDO NOW HAS AIR CONDITIONING!
TAIGEN LEIGHTON ARCHIVE WEBSITE NOW AVAILABLE
The Archive of teachings from Taigen Leighton, our Ancient Dragon Dharma Teacher emeritus is now available here. It includes Taigen’s books, articles, and Dharma talks. Many thanks to our sangha members Wade Wheatley and Reuben Kaller who helped contribute to its creation.
ONLINE SEMINARS ON DOGEN LED BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, will be leading two online seminars this summer as part of San Francisco Zen Center’s Zen Foundations series. The first, on July 20, will discuss Dogen’s Jijuyu Zammai, and the second on August 10 will discuss Fukanzazengi. Please see SFZC’s website for more information about each and about how to register.
Featured Events
NOW INDOORS: DAYLONG SESSHIN LED BY EISHIN NANCY EASTON – Sunday, July 28, 2024 @ 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM
VENUE MOVED INDOORS @ LS Zendo. Due to weather, our sesshin will occur at the ADZG temple and hybrid participation is welcome.
Click here to register for the event – please register by Monday, July 22.
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP – Friday, August 2, 2024 @ 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
This reading group, open to all, will be reading aloud together the classic expansive and psychedelic Mahayana Buddhist text, Avatamsaka Sutra (Flower Ornament Sutra). Participants are not expected to purchase this text and are welcome to drop in for any reading group gathering.
ONLINE SEMINAR LED BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON: FUKANZAZENGI – Saturday, August 10, 2024 @ 4:00 – 7:00 PM
Seminar led by our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi. The seminar is online and is hosted by San Francisco Zen Center – please see the event link for information about the event and how to register.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Responding to the Request of the Present Moment
ADZG 1196 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by hogetsu Laurie Belzer
Featured News
ALL EVENTS NOW INDOORS AT LS ZENDO: SUNDAY JULY 28,2024
Sunday Community Hybrid Program Dharma Talk by Eishin
DAYLONG SESSHIN LED BY EISHIN NANCY EASTON is now also available HYBRID
Due to weather, our SUNDAY PROGRAM and SESSHIN will be held at our Lincoln Square temple and online zendo on Sunday July 28, 2024.
Please join us for 9:30 zazen and dharma talk by Eishin, or sit with us longer and register for the now-hybrid sesshin.
LINCOLN SQUARE ZENDO NOW HAS AIR CONDITIONING!
TAIGEN LEIGHTON ARCHIVE WEBSITE NOW AVAILABLE
The Archive of teachings from Taigen Leighton, our Ancient Dragon Dharma Teacher emeritus is now available here. It includes Taigen’s books, articles, and Dharma talks. Many thanks to our sangha members Wade Wheatley and Reuben Kaller who helped contribute to its creation.
ONLINE SEMINARS ON DOGEN LED BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, will be leading two online seminars this summer as part of San Francisco Zen Center’s Zen Foundations series. The first, on July 20, will discuss Dogen’s Jijuyu Zammai, and the second on August 10 will discuss Fukanzazengi. Please see SFZC’s website for more information about each and about how to register.
