Mount Baldy Zen Center, Buddhist temple in San Gabriel Mountains, California, United States
Mount Baldy Zen Center is a monastery in the San Gabriel Mountains featuring traditional Japanese buildings and meditation halls at about 4,000 feet elevation. The grounds spread across forest land and provide space for practice and retreat.
The center was founded in 1971, transforming a former Boy Scout camp into a Rinzai Zen site under Kyozan Joshu Sasaki's guidance. This transformation marked the beginning of its long history as a place for intensive Buddhist practice in the West.
The community follows Rinzai Zen teachings and practices daily zazen meditation in the center's halls. Visitors can experience the rhythm of monastic life directly, from early meditation sessions to communal meals.
The center offers overnight stays and meals for those joining meditation sessions and guided retreats. Visitors should arrange visits in advance, as spaces are limited and the mountain elevation affects accessibility.
Leonard Cohen spent time at the center in 1994 and created music and spiritual work there, showing the connection between contemporary artists and Buddhist practice. This episode demonstrates how the place attracts people from the art world seeking deeper spiritual exploration.
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