Welcome!

The Minnesota Zen Meditation Center welcomes all those who want to learn more about Zen Buddhist meditation. The Center works to maintain a vibrant community committed to Zen practice and teachings.

The Center is located on the eastern shore of Lake Calhoun in south Minneapolis. People from all over the region come to this center to hear talks by teachers, attend classes and workshops, participate in retreats, attend services, and, most importantly, to do sitting meditation (zazen).

Are you new to Zen Buddhism or the Center?

If you are new to Zen Buddhism or the Center, attending the Introduction to Zen Meditation (zazen) is a helpful place to begin. This is a one-time class, open to all with no pre-registration necessary. Donations are gratefully accepted. This class is offered:

Sunday Mornings at MZMC

Sunday mornings are a good time to become familiar with the MZMC community. You are invited to join us for any part of the morning schedule. The Sunday talks provide continued learning about Zen Buddhism and offer you a chance to know the teachers more fully. We hope to see you then!

Sunday Morning Schedule

8:30 Introduction to Zen Meditation
9:10 Sitting Meditation
9:50 Break
10:00 Sunday Talk
11:00 Tea/Social Hour (except during retreats)

Sunday Speakers

October 5 – Lee Lewis
October 12 – Tim Burkett
October 19 – Tim Burkett
October 26 – Guest Teacher, Erik Storlie

November 2 – Tim Burkett
November 9 – Guest Teacher, Ken McLeod
November 16 – Tim Burkett
November 23 – Ted O'Toole
November 30 – Lee Lewis

December 7 – Tim Burkett
December 14 – Tim Burkett
December 21 – Guy Gibbon
December 28 – Susan Nelson

Annual Rohatsu Sesshin

Rohatsu Sesshin, 2008
with Tim Burkett
Seven-day: Sunday, November 30, 7 pm, through Sunday, December 7, 4 pm
Five-day: Wednesday, December 3 through Sunday, December 7, 4 pm
Two-day: Saturday, December 6 through Sunday, December 7, 4 pm
Hours: 5:45 am - 9:00 pm
Cost: $45 per full day for members; $60 per full day for non-members

Rohatsu (Buddha's Enlightenment) sesshin is arguably the year's most important event for practitioners of Zen Buddhism. All over the world Buddhists sit in meditation, much as we imagine Shakyamuni Buddha did. On the last day of this retreat we celebrate Buddha’s awakening to an intimacy with all of life as our own awakening. This formal, intensive meditation retreat includes zazen, kinhin (walking meditation), vegetarian meals using oryoki, liturgy, dokusan (meetings with the teacher), mindful work, and dharma talks. Each day begins with everyone at their seats by 5:45 a.m. and concludes at 9:00 p.m.

January Classes

How to Practice: The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching
with Guy Gibbon
Five Wednesdays, January 7— February 4, 2009, 7:15-8:30 p.m.
Cost: $60 members; $75 nonmembers

How to Practice has proven to be a very useful bridge between introductory and advanced understandings of Buddhist practice from a Zen perspective. An experiential approach is used to review core concepts like the Four Noble Truths, the Five Aggregates, the Six Paramitas, the Seven Factors of Awakening, and the Twelve Links of Interdependent Co-Arising. Individuals who complete the course will be able to engage more fully in advanced courses at MZMC and elsewhere.

Mindfulness and Depression
with Cyndie DeRidder
Six Wednesdays, January 21 – February 25 7:15 – 8:45 pm
Cost: $85 members; $110 non-members

This workshop is designed for people who have recurring periods of clinical depression and are interested in mindfully integrating lifestyle changes into their treatment regimen. There will be a period of meditation each evening and a discussion designed to underscore the combined wisdom of participants. This is not a therapy group and is not meant to replace any other treatments. Rather, it is a forum to cultivate courage, compassion, and intentionality. Readings and study materials will be provided. Class size is limited to 11.Cyndie DeRidder is a licensed clinical social worker with fourteen years of experience in community mental health and private practice settings. She is a member of MZMC, and has practiced zazen for 7 years. For more information see the website Know Self.

MZMC is a registered non-profit charitable organization in the state of Minnesota