Check out our Spring Newsletter (Click Here). Thank you Gary Sprague and Diana Lynch for writing articles for this issue. A big thank you to Zen Master Bon Soeng for spending a large amount of time to share his impressions and experiences of India, Nepal, and the Kwan Um School’s pilgrimage. Lastly, a super duper thanks [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, April 21st. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
Please join us for our annual 8 day retreat coming up this month February 24-March 3rd. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, for a minimum of one day or more. Please call 510-845-8565 or email hdt@emptygatezen.com for registration, entry times or any [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, January 20 through Sunday, January 22. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with guiding teacher Zen Master Bon Soeng. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for [...]
There will be regular morning and evening practice on Saturday the 31st, followed by our New Year’s Eve practice at 11:15PM. There will be no practice on Sunday the 1st. Have a clear New Year!
Holiday practice schedule as follows. Saturday, 24th morning: Yes Saturday, 24th evening: No Sunday, 25th morning and evening: No Monday, 26th morning: Yes Monday, 26th 11am sitting: No Monday, 26th evening: Yes
Please help us bring in the new year with special New Year’s Eve practice. Join us for refreshments at 8:30pm, followed by kido chanting. Come for all or parts of the practice. 7:00 – 8:00pm Evening Practice 8:30pm – 11:00pm Refreshments & Movie (Bring some food to share, poem, music) 11:15pm – [...]
Are you interested in learning about the 5 precepts? Have you taken the precepts and want to learn more on how they relate to our tradition? Zen Master Bon Soeng and abbot Jason Quinn will talk about the precepts and answer questions. This workshop will take place on Saturday, January 7th from 9:30am to 11:00am. [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, December 17. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
There will be no morning or evening practice on Thursday, November 24th, the morning of Friday the 25th. Practice will resume on Friday evening at 7:00pm.
Dear Friends of Empty Gate Zen Center, We are coming to you asking for your financial support. We continue our self-sustaining program of monthly retreats and thirteen practice sessions each week. The support from last year has allowed us to maintain these programs and support our full-time abbot in building the activities of the Zen [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, November 18 through Sunday, November 19. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with guiding teacher Zen Master Bon Soeng. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for [...]
By Zen Master Dae Kwang Buddhism teaches us that everything is just “One Thing”. In fact, Zen means become one. However, our dualistic thinking has us conceiving of the world as a vast array of opposites: good/bad, us/them, win/lose, subject/object, life/death etc. This forms the basis of our ignorance—we think of ourselves and everything [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, October 15. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and consulting interviews with abbot, Jason Quinn. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any questions. Phone: 510-845-8565 Email: hdt@emptygatezen.com To see [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, September 16 through Sunday, September 18. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with guest teacher Zen Master Dae Kwang. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for [...]
Please join us for our 2 day work retreat Saturday the 13th and Sunday the 14th from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Please come anytime. You can come for 1 hour or more. There is no registration and free lunch. It is a wonderful way to help the Zen center, meet and talk to other practitioners. Work [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, July 22nd through Sunday, July 24th. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry [...]
The Foundations of Zen workshop is recommended for both beginners and experienced practitioners. The workshop will cover the history of Zen, meditation instruction, a talk about Koans by Zen Master Dae Kwang. Fee: Suggested donation $20 Register: hdt@emptygatezen.com or 510-845-8565 9:30 History of Zen (Marshall White, Head Dharma Teacher) 10:00 Meditation Instuction (Jason Quinn, Abbot) 10:30 [...]
Check out our Summer Newsletter (Click Here). Many thanks to Leah, Julie and Caren for all their effort.
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, June 18th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, May 20th through Sunday, May 22nd. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, April 16th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
Please join us for our annual 8 day retreat coming up this month February 25-March 5th. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, for a minimum of one day or more. Please call 510-845-8565 or email hdt@emptygatezen.com for registration, entry times [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, January 21 through Sunday, January 23. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry times [...]
Please help us bring in the new year with special New Year’s Eve practice. Join us for refreshments at 8:30pm, followed by two sitting periods, then kido chanting. 7-8pm Evening Practice 8:30pm Refreshments (Bring something to share) 10:00pm – 11:00pm Sitting 11:15pm – 12:30am Kido (Chanting) As practice ends late, you are welcome to stay [...]
The center will be closed Friday, December 24th to Sunday, December 26th. Practice will resume Monday morning at 6:15am. Have a clear holiday!
(Click Here) for our winter newsletter.
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, December 18th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
Dear Friends of Empty Gate Zen Center, Thank you for your past support of Empty Gate Zen Center. Once again we are coming to you asking for your financial support. As you know, there has been a lot of activity at our Zen Center the last two years. Fourteen years ago we purchased the Center [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, November 19 through Sunday, November 21. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. There will be a precepts ceremony at the end of [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, October 16th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, September 17 through Sunday, September 19. The retreat will be led by special guest Tim Lerch JDPSN who received inka from Zen Master Seung Sahn in 2001 and is the guiding teacher of the Ocean Light Zen Center in Seattle. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, [...]
Please join us for our 2 day work retreat Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd from 9:30am to 4:30pm. Please come anytime, you can come for 1 hour or more. There is no registration and free lunch. It is a good way to help the Zen center, meet and talk to other practitioners. Work will consist [...]
Hello Everyone, Many people have been asking lately about how they can give support to the center. There are many ways to to do this. You can support by coming to any of our daily practice which occurs 7 days a week, participate in our monthly retreats, volunteering time to cover practice or help out [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, July 16th through Sunday, July 18th. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry times or any other questions. Phone: [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, June 19th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews with Zen Master Bon Soeng. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any [...]
On Sunday, May 23, the Empty Gate Zen Center installed a new abbot. Guiding teacher Zen Master Bon Soeng after many years serving as abbot has stepped down and resident Kwan Sahn Sunim stepped up. Here are the pics from the ceremony. (Photos by Bonnie Baskin and Steve Watkins) View the photos on our website [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday May 21st – 23rd led by special guest Zen Master Dae Kwang. Zen Master Dae Kwang is the abbot of the Kwan Um School of Zen and guiding teacher of the Providence Zen Center. There will also be an Abbot installation ceremony at the end of [...]
The July retreat scheduled for the 23rd – 25th has been re-scheduled one week early. The retreat will now take place on Friday, July 16th – 18th. The May retreat will be held the 21st – 23rd and led by special guest Zen Master Dae Kwang. Zen Master Dae Kwang is the abbot of the [...]
Hello Everyone, Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, December 19th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any questions. Phone: 510-845-8565 [...]
Join us Friday, April 9th at 7:30pm for for this rare opportunity. This workshop will be led by special guest Zen Master Dae Kwang (Abbot of the Kwan Um School Of Zen and Guiding teacher of the Providence Zen Center). The fee for this workshop is by donation. Reading the book is not required, however you [...]
We will begin a late morning sitting and discussion on Mondays 11:00am to 12:00pm. If anyone is interested please come by. We will begin Monday, March 8th. See you there! For any questions, please contact us at, Phone: 510-845-8565 Email: info@emptygatezen.com
Please join us for our annual 8 day retreat coming up this month!! Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, for a minimum of one day or more. There will be a precepts ceremony on March 5 at 8 PM. Please [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, January 22 through Sunday, January 24. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry times or any other questions. [...]
The holiday schedule will be as follows: There will be morning and evening practice on Thursday 24th. There will be morning practice with kongan interviews on Saturday December 26th. There will be no morning, mid morning and evening practice on Friday 25th, Saturday evening 26th, and no morning and evening practice onSunday 27th. The regular [...]
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, December 19th. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any questions. Phone: 510-845-8565 Email: hdt@emptygatezen.com To [...]
Following is the holiday schedule: There will be morning practice with kongan interviews on Saturday the 28th. There will be no practice on Thursday 26th, Friday 27th, Saturday night the 28th, and Sunday 29th. The regular schedule will continue on Monday morning the 30th
Please join us for a 3 day retreat Friday, November 20 through Sunday, November 22. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry times or any other questions. [...]
We will begin a late morning sitting and discussion on Mondays 11:30am to 12:30pm. If anyone is interested please come by. See you there! For any questions contact us at, Phone: 510-845-8565 Email: info@emptygatezen.com
Please join us for a 1 day retreat Saturday, October 17. 1 day retreats include extended sitting and walking meditation, and private dharma interviews. An informal lunch is provided. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions. Please call or email for registration or if you have any questions. Phone: 510-845-8565 Email: hdt@emptygatezen.org. To see the [...]
Please join us for a 3 day retreat this weekend Friday, Septemeber 18 through Sunday, September 20. Retreats include extended sitting practice, chanting, bowing, and private dharma interviews. Everyone is invited to participate, regardless of experience or traditions, in parts or all of the retreat. Please call or email for registration, entry times or any [...]
Our web master, Ross Chapman, has updated our website which now includes a new media page. It features our Facebook and YouTube accounts. Here are the direct links to the pages. Click here for Facebook and here for YouTube. We also have a Twitter page that you can connect to here.