Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji, Rinzai Zen monastery in Catskill Mountains, United States
Dai Bosatsu Zendo Kongo-ji is a Rinzai Zen monastery in the Catskill Mountains that spreads across forests and meadows near Beecher Lake. The property includes buildings for meditation, teaching, and lodging arranged throughout the natural setting.
The monastery was founded in 1976 as part of the spread of Zen Buddhism in North America. It grew from a small center into an established place for intensive Zen training and practice.
The community here follows daily rituals of meditation, chanting, and structured routines that shape life for both residents and guests. These practices create a rhythm that immerses visitors in traditional Rinzai Zen ways.
Visitors should prepare for changing weather and cool temperatures, especially during colder months, since the location sits at elevation in the mountains. Those wishing to join programs should sign up in advance since spots fill quickly and sessions run on set schedules.
The grounds hold Sangha Meadow, a burial ground where ashes of departed community members rest. This quiet place links the history of the Zen lineage to the people who sought refuge here.
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