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Ways to Enter

First, why Zen?

Whether you live in Southern California, or whether you’re visiting from further afield, contemporary life offers a seemingly endless array of spiritual options, material distractions, engaging hobbies, and intellectual pursuits. Our lives are also shaped by obligations to partners and families, employers and communities. We find that we are living in relationship with these obligations, just as much as with the people, animals, and environments with which we share our lives. Meanwhile, as many of us learn even in childhood, everything is passing through our hands, both in the sense that we are constantly receiving from others, and in the sense that we are very often losing what we thought might be ours to keep. Friends come and go, jobs begin and end, peace and security can feel under threat locally as well as globally. There are births to celebrate and deaths to mourn. How do we hold all of this? How do we find ourselves reacting to the ups and downs of a topsy-turvy world? How do we respond when demands are made of us, or when we encounter a cry for help?

Since ancient times, the practice of meditation has been used to ground practitioners in the present so that they can be more present to their questions, more present within their lives, and with all the many beings they encounter. 2500 years ago, the Buddha developed a particular approach to meditative inquiry and a particular framework to help seekers better understand how suffering arises and how it can be seen through. His vision was rooted in community (Sangha) because it is only with others that we can make an honest study of the teachings (Dharma) which point the way towards awakening (bodhi), as personified in one who has seen through their own conditioning and is able to share their wisdom (for instance, the Buddha). 

This tradition evolved in India and Eurasia before finding its way to China in the early Common Era. It then developed further into what was called Ch’an, based on the principle that meditation should be the core practice of spiritual growth. Ch’an was then brought to Korea, Vietnam, and Japan. Although other forms of Buddhism would flourish in the Himalayas, Southeast Asia, and elsewhere—and indeed, a multiplicity of schools were also present in East Asia—it was within Kamakura-era Japan (1185-1333) that the Ch’an school was adopted with a local pronunciation: Zen.

The Zen Center of Los Angeles is derived from this Japanese tradition of Buddhism, and in particular the Soto Zen school, founded by Eihei Dogen in the 13th century. It is this tradition, with its emphasis on zazen meditation, morality, deep inquiry, and sacred activity, that we uphold and seek to transmit. Since 1967, practitioners have come to ZCLA—some even living here for a time—to see for themselves how a life can be shaped by such a tradition. Regardless of your background, orientation, ethnicity, physical ability, age, societal status, or any other categorical classification, we welcome you to come and see for yourself what Zen has to offer.

Starting Out

Each week the Zen Center welcomes curious seekers, along with those looking to take their practice further. We offer two introductory classes that provide an entry point for Zen meditation, as well as other aspects of our training. This includes walking meditation, the teacher-student relationship, and the study of Buddhist precepts.

The first zazen class can be taken in person, here in central Los Angeles, or online. These occur on Sunday mornings. Although you may begin to join any of our scheduled meditation times once you’ve taken the first Intro to Zen class, most people go on to sign up for the second of these classes, which is only offered in person on Saturday mornings. 

Click here if you’d like to sign up for Intro to Zen Meditation, Part 1 

And Click here for more information about Intro to Zen, Part 2.

For those who have already received instruction, the weekly drop-in meditation schedule is normally as follows. (Check the online calendar as there is often variation):

Evenings 
Tuesdays 7 – 8pm            Wednesdays /Thursdays 7 – 8:30pm

Mornings
Wed. / Thurs. / Fridays     6 – 7am, followed by a 20 minute liturgy service

Weekends
Saturday morning liturgy service at 8:30am, followed by three periods of zazen

Sunday morning liturgy service at 8:30am, followed by two periods of zazen, and then a Dharma talk and lunch.

Again, please check our online calendar as things can change week to week.

Also, at the bottom of this page you can sign up for our weekly newsletter to receive up-to-date information on the week ahead as well as other programs you may be interested in.

The zendo can almost always be accessed with a special Zoom link. Sangha members also meet online each weekday at 7am PST for one period of group meditation. Click here to see all of our many online group practice offerings. 

You’ll find other ways to get to know ZCLA throughout this website, including the practice hub. While it is not mandatory in order to practice at the Center, you may in time consider becoming a formal member student. You can learn much more about that process here, or ask any of the priests or staff at the Zen Center. However, in short, members enjoy these key benefits:

  • Formalize your relationship with a teacher. A formal commitment to work with a teacher allows for more regular contact where your own deep inquiry can be explored over time. This is a hallmark of many Buddhist traditions, perhaps especially in Zen.
  • See yourself as the Sangha Treasure. Together we make a Buddha field of harmony and commitment. Especially in a major city such as Los Angeles, it is easy to feel cut off from what Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. described as the beloved community. That’s why hundreds of people choose to make ZCLA their spiritual home. 
  • Access exclusive practice resources. Both online and in person at the Zen Center, a wealth of teachings are only made available to formal members. This includes our onsite library and ready room with thousands of texts.
  • Support a community that supports you. Our intention is to be a refuge for all who wish to study the Buddha Way. Our aspiration is to transmit the teachings and practices of Zen Buddhism with integrity, in ways that meet each individual exactly where they are. Our faith is that the outcome of these practices creates ripples of compassion and understanding that emanate throughout the world in ways we’ll never know. Membership dues enable us to care for our buildings, grounds, gardens, and small support staff. While we may not always perceive how our practice benefits the world, member support has tangible effects we see each day, right before our eyes.
  • Get special pricing on retreats. In gratitude for the monetary support we receive from our members, retreats and classes often have a discounted price for the Zen Center’s formal students. 
  • And that’s just the beginning!

Once again, you can find more membership info here.