Village Zendo, Zen meditation center in Lower Manhattan, United States.
Village Zendo is a meditation center housed in a converted church building in Lower Manhattan where practitioners gather for zazen sessions and Buddhist teachings. The center offers daily meditation practice throughout the week, complemented by different types of practice events that support ongoing study and community participation.
The center was founded in 1986 and established itself as a meditation space in Lower Manhattan during a period of growing interest in Eastern practices across America. Since then it has become an important home for Zen Buddhist practitioners in New York City, drawing students from across the region.
The center blends traditional Zen Buddhist practices with the rhythm of contemporary urban life in Manhattan. Local residents and visitors participate in regular zazen sessions and dharma talks that speak to the realities of living in the city.
Newcomers can attend introductory meditation sessions to learn the basics, while regular practitioners join daily zazen practice in the early morning and evening hours throughout the week. It helps to arrive early as space can fill quickly, and checking the schedule in advance makes the visit more relaxed.
The center hosts an annual intensive meditation week from late December through early January where participants practice in complete silence. Many return year after year to this event, which gives structure to the transition into a new year.
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