Eiryu-ji Zen Center

Zen retreat at Dai Bosatsu Monastery - May 29th - June 2nd

Zen retreats (Sesshin) provide an incredible opportunity to step away from the ongoing demands and challenges of everyday life and dive deeply into the experience of silence and stillness. Dai Bosatsu is situated in a secluded location, adjacent to the highest lake in the Catskill region in New York State. This unique location along with the traditional structure of a Sesshin provide the optimal conditions for dissolving personal hindrances and releasing the grip of our harmful habits. As the body gradually settles into the embracing quietude and the incessant thinking process subsides, the transformative power of Sesshin is gradually revealed on a deeply experiential level.

The Sesshin will include the following: Zazen, traditional Jihatsu-style meals, Dharma talks, personal meetings with a teacher, Bokken, outdoor walks, and guided stretching periods.

This event is open to anyone who is interested in meditation. No prior experience is necessary.
For more information or questions about this event please contact us at: [email protected] (201) 891-0900

Aikido training and Zazen practice are intimately related and mutually benefitting. To understand this close relationship one must dive deeply into practice and personally experience it.

These two quotes from O’Sensei relate directly to the purpose and function of a Sesshin:

“unless you have linked yourself with true emptiness you will never understand Aikido”

"Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with your own, becoming the Breath of Life itself."

Embarking on the journey of our three months Ango training period.

The Zendo is ready for our Zazenkai & Spring Ango opening

Eiryu-ji Fall Sesshin: October 11-15

Eiryu-ji sangha will hold their Fall Sesshin from Wednesday, 10/11 at 8:00 pm until Sunday, 10/15 at 2:30 pm.
The Sesshin will include: Zazen, Dokusan, Teisho, Jihatsu, Daily guided stretching, outdoor kinhin, and basic Bokken practice. The event will be led by Junryu Roshi and it is open to everyone.

Dai Bosatsu monastery is situated on a secluded mountain, adjacent to the highest lake in the Catskill region in New York State. The secluded location along with the traditional Japanese setting provide an incredible opportunity to dive deeply into the practice of stillness and silence, away from the ongoing demands and challenges of everyday life. Words cannot capture the magnitude of such an event, but as your body gradually settles into the embracing stillness and the incessant thinking process subsides, the transformative power of Sesshin is gradually revealed on a deeply experiential level.

For more information and registration please contact us at: [email protected]

NJ's Buddhism boomlet: A quiet faith catches on in a chaotic world The Garden State is home to more than 20 Buddhist temples, centers and monasteries. Interest has grown amid the anxiety of the pandemic.

https://www.northjersey.com/story/news/2023/01/19/new-jersey-buddhist-temples-buddhism-draw-more-interest/69753497007/

NJ's Buddhism boomlet: A quiet faith catches on in a chaotic world The Garden State is home to more than 20 Buddhist temples, centers and monasteries. Interest has grown amid the anxiety of the pandemic.

Congratulations to our dear friends, Rev. Daikyo and Rev. Kojin, on becoming Dharma Holders during Hoshi Ceremony last Sunday. They are both long time practitioners, deeply dedicated to the Sangha and to the wisdom tradition of Zen.

Zen Meditation Retreat: June 2nd - 5th

In “The Art of Peace” O’Sensei said: "Now and again, it is necessary to seclude yourself among deep mountains and hidden valleys to restore your link to the source of life. Breathe in and let yourself soar to the ends of the universe; breathe out and bring the cosmos back inside. Next, breathe up all fecundity and vibrancy of the earth. Finally, blend the breath of heaven and the breath of earth with your own, becoming the Breath of Life itself."

A Zen Sesshin is a great opportunity to do exactly that. This event is held at a secluded monastery deep in the mountains, and it is a highly conducive setting to dive deeply into the practice of merging.

If you are interested in learning more about meditation and other aspects of Zen practice, this retreat will be an incredible opportunity to experience Zen in a traditional setting with breath-taking surroundings. Dai Bosatsu monastery is situated on a secluded mountain adjacent to the highest lake in the Catskill region in New York State, about 2.5 hours from Wyckoff, New Jersey. This Sesshin will include Zazen, Dokusan (personal guidance/instruction), Teisho (Dharma talks), liturgy, traditional jihatsu-style meals, Yoga, Bokken practice, and outdoor Kinhin (walking meditation) around the lake. Sesshins are a vital part of Zen training, as they create the necessary conditions for deeply penetrating our self-grasping mechanism. The continuous succession of Zazen periods, the enveloping silence, the unity of the group practice, and the natural setting, all contribute to a profoundly conducive experience that is simply not available in our hectic lives.

This event is open to anyone who is interested in the practice, regardless of prior experience. Please contact us if you have any questions and if you are interested in joining this event: [email protected]