6901 SW 14th Street, Des Moines, Iowa 50315
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DONATEOur Sunday Zazen practice is an opportunity to sit together in silent meditation and settle into the rhythm of practice. These sessions are open to everyone, whether you are new to Zen or have an established meditation practice. If you are joining us for the first time, we invite you to read the guidance below, which will help you prepare and feel at ease during your visit.
Online participation is available for our Sunday Zazen, offering a way to join practice from home. Online practice begins with 7:10 a.m. zazen and continues through the dharma talk and discussion. Zoom links are provided below for all online participants.
Meeting ID: 869 1922 4084
Password: 626891
Our Wednesday evening Zazen offers a quiet pause in the middle of the week, a chance to step out of daily routines and settle into stillness. Beginning later in the evening, this session welcomes those coming from work or evening commitments. All are welcome, whether you are new to Zen or an experienced practitioner. If this is your first time joining us, please take a moment to read the guidance below to help you feel prepared and at ease.
Online participation is available for our Wednesday evening Zazen and Zen Study Group. Online practice begins with 6:00 p.m. zazen and continues through the Zen Study Group. Zoom links are provided below for all online participants.
Meeting ID: 852 5907 2873
Password: 311698
The Zen Study Group meets periodically throughout the year on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 6:50 - 8:00 PM. The study covers a range of Buddhist and Zen topics. Please see the Zen Study Group page for details on the current topic.
The Zen Center holds quarterly Temple Work Days as a way to care for our shared practice space and support the life of the community. These mornings of collective work run from 9 am to 12 pm, and include cleaning the interior of the building, tending to the grounds, and taking on special projects as needed. Temple work days will be posted on our calendar below and News page.
The word "rohatsu" is a Japanese word that literally means "the 8th day of the 12th month." This is the day the Soto Zen tradition recognizes as Shakyamuni Buddha's enlightenment day. This event is traditionally commemorated with a week-long sesshin. The DMZC commemorates this event during the first full week in December. Zazen practice periods are held each morning and evening during the week, with a half-day practice period on Saturday, and ending on Sunday with the DMZC's normal practice schedule. The full Rohatsu schedule will be provided in advance as the time approaches. Wath the News page or sign up for our newsletter for details.
On select holidays such as Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day, the Zen Center offers special Zazen sessions as a way to mark these days with practice and reflection. These holiday sittings provide an opportunity to pause, gather in community, and return to the simplicity of zazen during times that are often busy or emotionally full. Please check our schedule for upcoming holiday sessions and details.
The Buddha's birthday is traditionally commemorated on April 8. The DMZC has its commemoration on the Sunday in April that is closest to the 8th. This celebration is called Hana Matsuri, or Flower Festival. The service includes a chance for all participants to offer incense and pour tea over a statue of the baby Buddha, a gesture representing bathing the newborn. It is also a gesture representing the rebirth associated with Spring and the rekindling of our aspiration to awaken.
The Soto Zen tradition commemorates the Buddha's parinirvana (i.e. the Buddha's death) on February 15. The DMZC honors the Buddha's passing from this life on the Sunday in February closest to the 15th. On this day, the dharma talk is a reading of the "Sutra on the Buddha's Bequethed Teaching," also referred to as "The Sutra on the Final Teaching of the Buddha." A reading of the sutra on the Buddha's parinirvana is a practice in the Soto Zen tradition. This sutra contains the Buddha's final teaching to his monks right before he died. It is a straight-forward summary of his 40 years of teaching the Dharma.
Once a quarter, on the first Saturday of the second month of the quarter, the DMZC holds a half-day practice period from 9:00 AM- Noon. Half-day sits offer an opportunity to step out of daily routines and enter a period of sustained, quiet practice within the supportive container of the Zen Center. The morning is a simple extended period of practice consisting of three 40-minute periods of zazen and one 40-minute period of a Zen reading followed by an open discussion. There is 10 minutes of walking meditation (kinhin) between each 40-minute period. This practice allows participants to settle in more deeply while remaining accessible to those with busy schedules. This practice is for newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. Newcomers are asked to arrive 20 minutes early for some basic instruction.
Online participation is available for our half-day sits.
Click on the Zoom link provided to participate online.
Meeting ID: 852 5907 2873
Password: 311698
If you are coming to the Zen Center for the first time, or are just new to Buddhism, you might find the following helpful:
The Des Moines Zen Center is supported entirely by the generosity of its community. Our teachings, practice opportunities, and programs are offered freely and sustained through voluntary donations.
If you wish to support the ongoing work and practice of the Zen Center, you are invited to make a free-will offering. Donations may be given as a one-time gift or set up as a recurring offering. Please visit our Donation page or use the Donate button here to give securely by PayPal or debit/credit card.
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