Green River Zen Center
We are a vibrant Zen Buddhist community, or sangha, integrating the Japanese-based Zen tradition with styles of Zen study and practice more accessible to contemporary American practitioners. Founder Roshi Eve Myonen Marko and Rev. Sensei Sally Sonen Kealy, as well as senior students, offer dharma talks and opportunities for private study. We also offer monthly one-day retreats and longer retreats, called sesshins, three times a year, as well as precepts classes and other trainings
Tell us a bit about how your group was concieved
Green River Zen Center is part of the Zen Peacemaker family, founded by Roshi Bernie Glassman, and the White Plum lineage, established by Roshi Taizan Maezumi. A Stewards council, comprised of sangha members, governs Green River Zen Center (see Shared Stewardship). The council meets quarterly and all members of the sangha are encouraged to attend. We emphasize gender, age, and cultural diversity and support collective awakening by appreciating the Zen flavor of each and every participant.
Green River Zen Center is part of the Zen Peacemaker family, founded by Roshi Bernie Glassman, and the White Plum lineage, established by Roshi Taizan Maezumi. A Stewards council, comprised of sangha members, governs Green River Zen Center (see Shared Stewardship). The council meets quarterly and all members of the sangha are encouraged to attend. We emphasize gender, age, and cultural diversity and support collective awakening by appreciating the Zen flavor of each and every participant.
How many members do you serve? 25
Tell us about one exciting project, program, or other offering you are currently working on.
We are in the midst of a 108 days meditation period and will begin our Winter Ango Intensive at the start of February.
We are in the midst of a 108 days meditation period and will begin our Winter Ango Intensive at the start of February.
How do the Three Tenets inform your social engagement?
GRZC's social engagement is evident in the work that its members do in their jobs. Virtually every one of our members is a teacher, therapist, or involved in some other helping, healing profession. The Three Tenets is a staple of the teaching and practice at GRZC, as you can imagine given Roshi Eve's Marko's history. The tenets are at the center of so many of our discussions, be they at Council or in the Dharma talks. It is safe to say that they permeate the culture of GRZC. As a sangha, in part because we are small, we contribute in small ways to local issues as they come up, such as helping undocumented families make ends meet or working at the local soup kitchen. We do not have any permanent service programs and yet that is a topic of discussion. We have to be careful not to over-burden ourselves given how much we already do with a small number of members.
GRZC's social engagement is evident in the work that its members do in their jobs. Virtually every one of our members is a teacher, therapist, or involved in some other helping, healing profession. The Three Tenets is a staple of the teaching and practice at GRZC, as you can imagine given Roshi Eve's Marko's history. The tenets are at the center of so many of our discussions, be they at Council or in the Dharma talks. It is safe to say that they permeate the culture of GRZC. As a sangha, in part because we are small, we contribute in small ways to local issues as they come up, such as helping undocumented families make ends meet or working at the local soup kitchen. We do not have any permanent service programs and yet that is a topic of discussion. We have to be careful not to over-burden ourselves given how much we already do with a small number of members.
What is the most meaningful challenge your organization Faces?
We are relatively small in number and have a significant level of programming. Outreach is a challenge for us. We would probably benefit from a few more active members. We could surely be more diverse in our membership as well.
We are relatively small in number and have a significant level of programming. Outreach is a challenge for us. We would probably benefit from a few more active members. We could surely be more diverse in our membership as well.
For more information: tomjredden@gmail.com
Our Website: http://www.greenriverzen.org
Green River Zen Center -
Montague, MA
