Introduction
Formally established in 1978, the Boulder Zen Center is dedicated to providing opportunities for traditional Zen practice. We welcome students from all lineages and approaches, as well as those seeking to explore Zen Buddhism for the first time. The BZC has no formal dues or membership, although we appreciate donations toward expenses for rent and supplies.Our community has cultivated a strong relationship with Crestone Mountain Zen Center as a result of a number of us practicing there. Zentatsu Baker Roshi is our teacher, although he does not live in Boulder. Within our regular practice, we learn from one another through engaging in this ancient practice together.
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 at 2151 Arapahoe Ave. in 2004. We've been running the business since then. So, we have crafted 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 new practice center in downtown Boulder. Please come stay with us!We recently completed (July 2007)remodeling the upstairs to make guest rooms out of space that could not be used as guest room, which was mostly unused. This will allow us to remodel the two downstairs rooms of the Carriage House to make a zendo. We have recently begun the first phase of this work, and hope to complete it, and have a usable Zendo, this Spring. In the meantime, we are sitting in a small room upstairs in the inn, but please don't let that discourage you. It's cozy, but it's a nice space, and we don't bark or bite.
There is still lots of work to be done. The Briar Rose needs a new roof, which will likely cost $25,000. We already upgraded the water service, at a cost of nearly $15,000, as required by the City of Boulder before we could do the remodeling upstairs. The remodeling, which is now done (yay!) cost about $65,000. Ultimately, we need to raise about $65,000 more to complete the zendo, including a beautiful floor, windows, lighting, bathrooms, and a tan with tatami.
Please consider helping us by sending a donation to: Boulder Zen Center, Attn: building fund, 136 Elk Ridge Ln., Boulder, CO 80302 (please note "building fund" in the memo field.) Thank you!
Practice
Our formal practice consists of sitting zazen, chanting, and walking meditation. Dress is casual. Actually, at the moment, we don't chant much, because the space is not appropriate for it. However, we will add that back in when we have created a new zendo.Intensives
Weekend retreats are occasionally offered. In addition to our usual practice activities, intensives include work periods and oryoki (formal meals).2007/2008 Intensive Dates:
- December 1 - 8 Rohatsu Sesshin - Crestone Mountain Zen Center
- April 1 - 8 Sesshin - Crestone Mountain Zen Center
We had a weekend "Sangha Seminar" in September, for which or monastic friends from Crestone came to join us. Baker Roshi did not join us, but we explored Buddhist ideas of self together. We are planning two of these events this year, in August and November. We are currently finalizing the dates with our colleagues at the monastery.
Dharma Talks
Talks are given occasionally at the Briar Rose, by Gary, the innkeeper monk. Please call the B&B to find out when the next one might occur.Seminars
Boulder Zen Center 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 (so that you can plan in advance.)Roshi's seminars are opportunities to extensively explore how to practice some aspect of the Dharma, shedding new light on classical teachings.
2008 Seminar Dates:
- Memory, Reflection and Realization May 2-4
at the Chautauqua Community House
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.
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.