Boulder Zen Center

Introduction

We have now become Dharma Sangha Boulder, formalizing our connection to Dharma Sangha/Crestone Mountain Zen Center, and Shunryu Suzuki Roshi's and Zentatsu Baker Roshi's lineage. A number of us have practiced there for many years now. Zentatsu Baker Roshi is our first abbot and head teacher, although he does not live in Boulder. Within our regular practice, we learn from one another through engaging in this ancient practice together. The BZC has no formal dues or membership. We deeply appreciate donations toward paying off our the considerable debt we took on to create our wonderful practice space.

our new zendo
(click here for a larger image of the zendo)

 

Instruction

General introductory instruction is available by appointment. We typically include discussion of sitting posture, zazen, mindfulness, the role of ritual in Zen, the approach of our group, and practices appropriate to the individual. The introduction is informal, and seeks to address each individual's interest and questions. Please call Gary: 303-579-6272.

Building a Practice Center

After over 25 years of practicing Zen as the "Zen center in a box", the Boulder Zen Center made a home at the Briar Rose B&B, a small Boulder Hotel at 2151 Arapahoe Ave. in 2004. We've been running the business since then. We are crafting a way to support our new center through an appropriate business. It is a beautiful old building. It's going quite well, although it has been quite demanding for those of us in the thick of it. These are the challenges we face in creating a practice center in downtown Boulder. Please come stay with us, or drop by for a cup of tea.

There is still much work to be done in the future to complete our vision, but we finished the first phase of our zendo, and already it is a wonderful space. Please consider helping us by sending a donation to: Boulder Zen Center, c/o Gary Hardin, 1321 Balsam Ave. #1, Boulder, CO 80304. For now, please make checks out to "Boulder Zen Center". Thank you!

Practice

Our formal practice consists of sitting zazen, chanting, and walking meditation. Dress is casual. Please see the schedule at the bottom of the page.

Intensive Practice

Weekend retreats are occasionally offered. In addition to our usual practice activities, intensives include work periods and oryoki (formal meals). No weekend retreats are currently scheduled, but we are offering...

9-5 Zazen:

This is just sitting, with four 40-minute periods in the morning, an hour-and-20-minute brown-bag lunch, and four 40-minute periods in the afternoon. Afterward, we meet for a casual tea in the living room. You may come for any part, but please enter and leave only during kinhin.

Sesshin

Dharma Talks and/or Discussion

Ryokan Gary Hardin has begun giving talks the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month, during the second period of zazen. We request that you try to come for the first period as well, if possible. Also, there is an open invitation for informal dharma discussion over a pot of tea in the living room at the Rose, as often happens after zazen, especially on Saturdays.

Seminars with Zentatsu Baker-roshi

Dharma Sangha Boulder hosts two weekend seminars each year with Zentatsu Baker-roshi, dharma successor of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, and abbot of the Crestone Mountain Zen Center and Dharma Sangha. These events are usually held on the last weekend of January, and the last weekend of April or first weekend of May (so that you can plan well in advance.) The dates for 2010 will be set in late summer. (Reservations for the Chautauqua Community House, our venue, are not accepted before then for next year.)

Upcoming 2009 Seminar Dates:

Both of these events will be at the monastery in Crestone. Please see the Crestone Mountain Zen Center practice schedule.

Boulder Seminar Contact:
Tim Hogan
303-444-5577
Tim.Hogan@colorado.edu

Roshi's seminars are opportunities to extensively explore how to practice some aspect of the Dharma, shedding new light on classical teachings.

Baker-roshi offers seminars as a way of developing basic Zen teachings and practice through lectures, question and answer, and open discussion. The regular seminar schedule is from Friday morning through Sunday afternoon, with the Friday "pre-day" being optional. Note that there is no public lecture on Friday evening, as there was in the past. Short periods of zazen are also included in the seminar schedule. For details, please refer to the flyer for the particular seminar, linked above, or go to our contact information.

Sangha Seminars with Zenki Christian Dillo

These are structured similarly to the seminars with Baker-roshi, but with the intention of exploring the topic through a sangha discussion without Roshi's presence. This helps to strengthen the sangha, and challenges all of us to help each other's practice. The Crestone resident Sangha will join us in Boulder for these events at the Briar Rose, with participants encouraged to stay overnight at the inn.

2009 Sangha Seminar Dates:

The Crestone resident Sangha will join the participants in this Boulder Zen Center study seminar to develop the topic through individual study and group discussion. The practice will include morning and evening Zazen at the Briar Rose Bed & Breakfast. Everyone is encouraged to stay overnight at the Briar Rose; the group will prepare all of its meals there. Arrival is between 5 and 6 pm on Friday, departure after lunch on Sunday in the early afternoon.

Practice at Crestone Mountain Zen Center

For information on Crestone Mountain Zen Center practice and events, including sesshin, seminars at the monastery (but not those in Boulder), and practice weekends, please see www.dharmasangha.org or contact CMZC directly at 719-256-4692 or cmzc@dharmasangha.org.

History

Formally established in 1978 as the Boulder Zen Center, Dharma Sangha Boulder is dedicated to providing opportunities for traditional Zen practice. Originally, the Boulder Zen Center was founded by a group of students of the Rinzai Zen teacher Joshu Sasaki-roshi, who is based around Los Angeles. For 25 years our form primarily followed that lineage, although there were elements of a Korean style that were brought in by an early leader of our group, Richard Barskey, who had a Korean teacher. Richard also studied with Sasaki-roshi. In the early years the group was a bit transient, but eventually found a home at Karma Dzong, the center for Tibetan Buddhist practice in Boulder, which has now become the Shambhala Center. We practiced there for over 20 years as the "Zen center in a box", using whatever room was available. The Shambhala folks were very kind to allow us to stay for so long, charging us only nominal rent.

In June of 2004 we purchased the Briar Rose, to finally create a home after 25 years afloat. In July of 2008 we finally finished our zendo, stretching beyond our finances, but determined to make it happen. With the new zendo, we launched ourselves fully as a part of Dharma Sangha, with Richard Baker-roshi as our teacher and abbot. Although he does not reside in Boulder, he inspires and guides our practice. We welcome students from all lineages and approaches, as well as those seeking to explore Zen Buddhism for the first time.