Soto Zen Buddhist Meditation in Chicago
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is a community of practitioners committed to Soto Zen Buddhist meditation practice in Chicago. Please join us on the path of beneficial compassion and wisdom inspired by Shakyamuni Buddha.
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 others.
Under the guidance of Dharma Teacher Taigen Dan Leighton, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate evolved from a small meditation group that began meeting once weekly in 2003 and now, we offer many meditation and Zen practice opportunities.
On Sunday mornings, we welcome brand new visitors to visit our online zendo to learn meditation before the regularly scheduled period of meditation. Please email info@ancientdragon.org in order to arrange for meditation instruction.
ANCIENT DRAGON ZEN GATE TEMPORARILY CLOSED
As a measure to protect the health of its Sangha members and to avoid contributing to the spread of the coronavirus, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate will be closed until it is determined that is safe to resume conducting in-person. No programs will be conducted at Ancient Dragon during this time. We will provide a notice on this website as soon as we determine a date for resumption of activities at the temple. Please check back here for updates.
While Ancient Dragon is closed, Taigen Dan Leighton will be available for dokusan by telephone. Please send requests for dokusan to our info@ancientdragon.org mailbox. Practice leaders Eishin Nancy Easton, Nyozan Eric Shutt, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, Yoki Shudo Paula Lazarz, Gyoshin Laurel Ross, and Douglas Floyd also are available for practice interviews and can be reached through info@ancientdragon.org. Finally, Sangha member Sara Lytle is available to offer support to Sangha members who are experiencing stress and anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic. You may contact her directly at sslytle@gmail.com.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
- Ruth Ozeki – Writing Process and Tales of Time Being (11/5/16)
- Ruth Ozeki – Arrays of Self Amid Time Beings (11/6/16)
- Taigen Dan Leighton – The Real Martin Luther King Jr., His Anti-War Work, and His Current Relevance (1/19/20)
Featured News
COMMUNITY MEETINGS SUMMARY REPORT
As an effort to protect our sangha, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate has not met in our Irving Park Road city temple since mid-March, shifting focus to operating as a online practice community. This new realm of Zoom zazen has been sometimes strange but has brought many benefits, including increased practice offerings and new sangha members from around the world. In the month of August, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate held three open community meetings in the online zendo to discuss the helpfulness and challenges of our online practice, possible additional practice opportunities, and whether or not to renew our lease on the temple building on Irving Park Road. Ancient Dragon’s current lease on the temple space, with the option to renew, concludes on December 31st.
After our sangha meetings, sangha member Brian Taylor collated the opinions expressed at the meetings and provided the results to the board for consideration at the board meeting on September 13th, when the board decided not to renew our lease. We have informed our landlord.
NEW ARTICLE BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON – “BEING DEEP AND DEEP TIME”
Click here to read a new article by Taigen Dan Leighton, “Being Deep and Deep Time.” The article is part of a new book, “A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy and the Work of Our Time,” edited by Stephanie Kaza, that focuses on Macy’s lifetime work and writings. From A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy and the Work of Our Time, edited by Stephanie Kaza. © 2020 by Stephanie Kaza. Reprinted in arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO.
TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON DHARMA TALK AT NORTH SHORE MEDITATION CENTER
On Thursday Nov. 19th, Taigen will offer a Zoom Dharma talk on the Song of the Grass Hut at the Boston area North Shore Meditation Center, 6:15 – 7:30 PM CST, preceded by zazen and ceremony starting 5:30 pm. Click here for information and to register.
EIGHTFOLD PATH STUDY GROUP
An opportunity to become acquainted with, or do a deeper dive into, The Eightfold Path. Shudo Paula Lazarz is the facilitator. The study text is “The Word Of The Buddha,” by Nyanatiloka Mahathera. We will also look at commentaries by contemporary teachers to inspire our study and discussion. This group is limited to 10 participants. Please email info@ancientdragon.org by October 28th to register. Suggested Donation is $100 – sliding scale available.
CHICAGO HIROSHIMA DAY EVENTS
RENEW & RECONNECT QIGONG & MEDITATION RETREAT – Saturday, October 31, 2020 @ 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
This retreat is a combination of Qigong and Sitting & Walking Meditation. You may participate online or in-person. Email info@ancientdragon.org to register, including either online or in-person preference. Donations requested. Co-sponsored by HealthKick Kung Fu.
FULL MOON BODHISATTVA CEREMONY – Saturday, October 31, 2020 @ 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Traditional monthly repentance ceremony with melodic chanting invoking buddhas and bodhisattvas, led by Ancient Dragon Zen priests. Co-sponsored by Ancient Dragon Zen Gate and Warrior’s Path Buddhist Academy. This event is held in-person with a 10 person maximum. Email info@ancientdragon.org to register.
ZAZEN AND DHARMA TALK BY PAUL COPP – Sunday, November 1, 2020 @ 9:30 AM – 11:00AM
Dharma talk by Paul Copp, Associate Professor in Chinese Religion and Thought at the University of Chicago. Paul is currently studying the worlds of 9th and 10th century Chinese Buddhists whose practices are evidenced by manuscripts discovered at Dunhuang, a key city on the eastern end of the Silk Roads. Sunday Morning Public program in our online Zendo via ZOOM.
Check out our Sangha News page to look at older news items previously featured here.
Click the 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
The Non-Duality of Duality and Non-Duality
ADZG 838 ADZG Monday Night Dharma Talk by Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton
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.
Online Video Dharma Talks
As our sangha moves online while our physical zendo is closed, we have been able to record many of our dharma talks on video. Below is our latest video dharma talk; others can be found on our Online Video Dharma Talks page.
Visit us on Facebook
For our very latest news, please like our page on Facebook.
Visit Us on Instagram
To see our latest images, please follow us on Instagram.
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.
Upcoming Events
Beginner’s Mind Zazen & Discussion Online
Meditation in Mourning for Black Lives Taken and Imprisoned
Dragon Zoom Happy Hour
Click the 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 TEMPORARILY CLOSED
As a measure to protect the health of its Sangha members and to avoid contributing to the spread of the coronavirus, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate will be closed until it is determined that is safe to resume conducting in-person. No programs will be conducted at Ancient Dragon during this time. We will provide a notice on this website as soon as we determine a date for resumption of activities at the temple. Please check back here for updates.
While Ancient Dragon is closed, Taigen Dan Leighton will be available for dokusan by telephone. Please send requests for dokusan to our info@ancientdragon.org mailbox. Practice leaders Eishin Nancy Easton, Nyozan Eric Shutt, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, Yoki Shudo Paula Lazarz, Gyoshin Laurel Ross, and Douglas Floyd also are available for practice interviews and can be reached through info@ancientdragon.org. Finally, Sangha member Sara Lytle is available to offer support to Sangha members who are experiencing stress and anxiety related to the coronavirus pandemic. You may contact her directly at sslytle@gmail.com.
Featured News
COMMUNITY MEETINGS SUMMARY REPORT
As an effort to protect our sangha, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate has not met in our Irving Park Road city temple since mid-March, shifting focus to operating as a online practice community. This new realm of Zoom zazen has been sometimes strange but has brought many benefits, including increased practice offerings and new sangha members from around the world. In the month of August, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate held three open community meetings in the online zendo to discuss the helpfulness and challenges of our online practice, possible additional practice opportunities, and whether or not to renew our lease on the temple building on Irving Park Road. Ancient Dragon’s current lease on the temple space, with the option to renew, concludes on December 31st.
After our sangha meetings, sangha member Brian Taylor collated the opinions expressed at the meetings and provided the results to the board for consideration at the board meeting on September 13th, when the board decided not to renew our lease. We have informed our landlord.
NEW ARTICLE BY TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON – “BEING DEEP AND DEEP TIME”
Click here to read a new article by Taigen Dan Leighton, “Being Deep and Deep Time.” The article is part of a new book, “A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy and the Work of Our Time,” edited by Stephanie Kaza, that focuses on Macy’s lifetime work and writings. From A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy and the Work of Our Time, edited by Stephanie Kaza. © 2020 by Stephanie Kaza. Reprinted in arrangement with Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO.
TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON DHARMA TALK AT NORTH SHORE MEDITATION CENTER
On Thursday Nov. 19th, Taigen will offer a Zoom Dharma talk on the Song of the Grass Hut at the Boston area North Shore Meditation Center, 6:15 – 7:30 PM CST, preceded by zazen and ceremony starting 5:30 pm. Click here for information and to register.
EIGHTFOLD PATH STUDY GROUP
An opportunity to become acquainted with, or do a deeper dive into, The Eightfold Path. Shudo Paula Lazarz is the facilitator. The study text is “The Word Of The Buddha,” by Nyanatiloka Mahathera. We will also look at commentaries by contemporary teachers to inspire our study and discussion. This group is limited to 10 participants. Please email info@ancientdragon.org by October 28th to register. Suggested Donation is $100 – sliding scale available.
CHICAGO HIROSHIMA DAY EVENTS
RENEW & RECONNECT QIGONG & MEDITATION RETREAT – Saturday, October 31, 2020 @ 9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
This retreat is a combination of Qigong and Sitting & Walking Meditation. You may participate online or in-person. Email info@ancientdragon.org to register, including either online or in-person preference. Donations requested. Co-sponsored by HealthKick Kung Fu.
FULL MOON BODHISATTVA CEREMONY – Saturday, October 31, 2020 @ 3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Traditional monthly repentance ceremony with melodic chanting invoking buddhas and bodhisattvas, led by Ancient Dragon Zen priests. Co-sponsored by Ancient Dragon Zen Gate and Warrior’s Path Buddhist Academy. This event is held in-person with a 10 person maximum. Email info@ancientdragon.org to register.
ZAZEN AND DHARMA TALK BY PAUL COPP – Sunday, November 1, 2020 @ 9:30 AM – 11:00AM
Dharma talk by Paul Copp, Associate Professor in Chinese Religion and Thought at the University of Chicago. Paul is currently studying the worlds of 9th and 10th century Chinese Buddhists whose practices are evidenced by manuscripts discovered at Dunhuang, a key city on the eastern end of the Silk Roads. Sunday Morning Public program in our online Zendo via ZOOM.
Check out our Sangha News page to look at older news items previously featured here.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
- Ruth Ozeki – Writing Process and Tales of Time Being (11/5/16)
- Ruth Ozeki – Arrays of Self Amid Time Beings (11/6/16)
- Taigen Dan Leighton – The Real Martin Luther King Jr., His Anti-War Work, and His Current Relevance (1/19/20)
Upcoming Events
Beginner’s Mind Zazen & Discussion Online
Meditation in Mourning for Black Lives Taken and Imprisoned
Dragon Zoom Happy Hour
Latest Dharma Podcast Episodes
The Non-Duality of Duality and Non-Duality
ADZG 838 ADZG Monday Night Dharma Talk by Rev. Taigen Dan Leighton
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.
Online Video Dharma Talks
As our sangha moves online while our physical zendo is closed, we have been able to record many of our dharma talks on video. Below is our latest video dharma talk; others can be found on our Online Video Dharma Talks page.
Visit us on Facebook
For our very latest news, please like our page on Facebook.
Visit Us on Instagram
To see our latest images, please follow us on Instagram.
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.
