Soto Zen Buddhist Meditation in Chicago
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is a community of practitioners committed to Soto Zen Buddhist meditation practice in Chicago, and now online to many distant practitioners. 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 many others. Sunday mornings we welcome brand new visitors to attend our Lincoln Square Zendo in person, or in our Online Zendo via Zoom to learn meditation before our regular program. Please email info@ancientdragon.org
LINCOLN SQUARE ZENDO OPEN FOR IN-PERSON DHARMA EVENTS
Starting Sunday, November 6, 2022, Ancient Dragon began holding in-person dharma events on Sunday mornings and Monday evenings at our new Lincoln Square Zendo, located at 2255 W Giddings Street – 1st Floor in Chicago. Masks will continue to be required at in-person dharma events, with N95 masks encouraged, and sangha members will also be able to attended remotely via Zoom. Please review our COVID policy for attending in-person events, as well as instructions for getting to our new zendo by clicking here. Please see our calendar, the Sangha Events section, and the Meditation Events sections of this site for news about upcoming events.
Guiding Dharma Teacher Taigen Dan Leighton will be available for dokusan by in person, by telephone or zoom, as will Dharma Teachers Nyozan Eric Shutt, Eishin Nancy Easton, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, and Visiting Dharma Teacher Zengyu Paul Discoe. Please send requests for dokusan to our info@ancientdragon.org mailbox. Lay Teacher Douglas Floyd and Practice Leaders Gyoshin Laurel Ross, and Shudo Paula Lazarz also are available for practice interviews and can be reached through info@ancientdragon.org.
Finally, our Sangha Care Committee provides and facilitates support for Sangha members and their loved ones. We view caring for our community as an opportunity of mutual benefit, a chance to live out our Bodhisattva precepts and to realize our interconnectedness as beings. Challenging times during which the Sangha Care Committee could be of support include times of illness, grief, or hardship. Examples of support include our Dharma Buddies Program, support during times of illness or hospitalization, and mobilization of sangha resources and mutual aid. Please contact sanghacare@ancientdragon.org to be in touch.
Click the Online Zendo 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
Manifest Not Becoming buddha
ADZG 1048 ADZG Monday Night Dharma Talk by Douglas Floyd
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.
Featured Events
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP – Friday, December 2, 2022 @ 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. Participants will also be invited to sit for optional seated meditation at each gathering. There is no registration or fee to attend, but donations are welcome. Email info@ancientdragon.org with questions.
ROHATSU ALL-DAY SITTING – Sunday, December 4, 2022 @ 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
All-day Rohatsu sitting. In-person seating has filled up, but you may still register for online participation. $75 suggested donation; sliding scale is available for all. Regular Sunday Morning service will be open to all regardless of registration and will include a talk by Taigen Dan Leighton as well as the Opening Ceremony for our new Lincoln Square Zendo. Please register by Sunday, November 27 by using the form on the event page.
ZAZEN AND DHARMA TALK BY BYAKUREN JUDITH RAGIR – Sunday, December 11, 2022 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Dharma talk by Byakuren Judith Ragir, former Guiding Teacher at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, Minn. Byakuren will speak about her new book, Untangling Karma. Sunday Morning Public Program at Lincoln Square Zendo and in our online Zendo via ZOOM.
Featured News
VENEZUELA DONATION DRIVE
Ancient Dragon is working with the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance to help collect goods for Venezuelan refugees living in Chicagoland. Their next drive is Sunday, November 6. Click here to see a flyer containing a list of goods needed and information on how to donate. Also, please click here to learn more about the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance and for other opportunities for dana.
NEW ESSAY BY GEORGE OCHSENFELD: UKRAINE AND NUCLEAR WAR
Click here to read a new article by Ancient Dragon sangha member George Ochsenfeld, entitled Ukraine and Nuclear War: A Brief Essay on Preventing Armageddon. You can also access it, as well as other articles by sangha members, by viewing our Articles Page.
INTERVIEW WITH HOWARD RUAN IN TRICYCLE MAGAZINE
Our sangha member Howard Ruan, who is a practicing chaplain, was interviewed about the intersection of his work, his practice, and psychoanalysis in Tricycle magazine. Click here to read the article, or look at our Dharma Articles page to read it and other writings by various sangha members and friends.
Check out our Sangha News page to look at older news items previously featured here.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
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.
Click the Online Zendo 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.
SANGHA RELOCATING TO NEW LINCOLN SQUARE ZENDO
Starting Sunday, November 6, 2022, Ancient Dragon will begin holding in-person services on Sunday mornings and Monday evenings at our new Lincoln Square Zendo, located at 2255 W Giddings Street in Chicago. Masks will continue to be required at in-person service, with N95 masks encouraged, and sangha members will also be able to attended remotely via Zoom. Please review our COVID policy for attending in-person events, as well as instructions for getting to our new zendo by clicking here. Please see our calendar, the Sangha Events section, and the Meditation Events sections of this site for news about upcoming events.
Guiding Dharma Teacher Taigen Dan Leighton will be available for dokusan by telephone or zoom, as will Dharma Teachers Nyozan Eric Shutt, Eishin Nancy Easton, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, and Visiting Dharma Teacher Zengyu Paul Discoe. Please send requests for dokusan to our info@ancientdragon.org mailbox. Lay Teacher Douglas Floyd and Practice Leaders Gyoshin Laurel Ross, and Shudo Paula Lazarz also are available for practice interviews and can be reached through info@ancientdragon.org.
Finally, our Sangha Care Committee provides and facilitates support for Sangha members and their loved ones. We view caring for our community as an opportunity of mutual benefit, a chance to live out our Bodhisattva precepts and to realize our interconnectedness as beings. Challenging times during which the Sangha Care Committee could be of support include times of illness, grief, or hardship. Examples of support include our Dharma Buddies Program, support during times of illness or hospitalization, and mobilization of sangha resources and mutual aid. Please contact sanghacare@ancientdragon.org to be in touch.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episodes
Bodhisattva Values in Our Current Situation-Please Vote
ADZG 1041 ADZG Monday Night Dharma Talk by 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.
Featured Events
FLOWER ORNAMENT SUTRA READING GROUP – Friday, December 2, 2022 @ 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. Participants will also be invited to sit for optional seated meditation at each gathering. There is no registration or fee to attend, but donations are welcome. Email info@ancientdragon.org with questions.
ROHATSU ALL-DAY SITTING – Sunday, December 4, 2022 @ 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM
All-day Rohatsu sitting. In-person seating has filled up, but you may still register for online participation. $75 suggested donation; sliding scale is available for all. Regular Sunday Morning service will be open to all regardless of registration and will include a talk by Taigen Dan Leighton as well as the Opening Ceremony for our new Lincoln Square Zendo. Please register by Sunday, November 27 by using the form on the event page.
ZAZEN AND DHARMA TALK BY BYAKUREN JUDITH RAGIR – Sunday, December 11, 2022 @ 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Dharma talk by Byakuren Judith Ragir, former Guiding Teacher at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul, Minn. Byakuren will speak about her new book, Untangling Karma. Sunday Morning Public Program at Lincoln Square Zendo and in our online Zendo via ZOOM.
Featured News
VENEZUELA DONATION DRIVE
Ancient Dragon is working with the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance to help collect goods for Venezuelan refugees living in Chicagoland. Their next drive is Sunday, November 6. Click here to see a flyer containing a list of goods needed and information on how to donate. Also, please click here to learn more about the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance and for other opportunities for dana.
NEW ESSAY BY GEORGE OCHSENFELD: UKRAINE AND NUCLEAR WAR
Click here to read a new article by Ancient Dragon sangha member George Ochsenfeld, entitled Ukraine and Nuclear War: A Brief Essay on Preventing Armageddon. You can also access it, as well as other articles by sangha members, by viewing our Articles Page.
INTERVIEW WITH HOWARD RUAN IN TRICYCLE MAGAZINE
Our sangha member Howard Ruan, who is a practicing chaplain, was interviewed about the intersection of his work, his practice, and psychoanalysis in Tricycle magazine. Click here to read the article, or look at our Dharma Articles page to read it and other writings by various sangha members and friends.
Check out our Sangha News page to look at older news items previously featured here.
ARCHIVAL TALKS
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.
