Berkeley Zen Center

Berkeley

,

United States

Berkeley Zen Center (BZC) is a Soto Zen Buddhist meditation and community center established in Berkeley in 1979 by Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi. Housed in a warm home in South Berkeley, just down the street from Berkeley Bowl, the center offers a number of introductory meditation courses as well as more intensive half, full, and multi-day sittings.

Zen

Path

Buddhism

Tradition

Buddhism

Language

Center

Type of Place

About the Place

and its People

Berkeley Zen Center (BZC) is a Soto Zen Buddhist meditation and community center established in Berkeley in 1979 by Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi. Housed in a warm home in South Berkeley, just down the street from Berkeley Bowl, the center offers a number of introductory meditation courses as well as more intensive half, full, and multi-day sittings.

Located in a shingled-house on a quiet street in South Berkeley, Berkeley Zen Center offers a haven of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. The zendo, or meditation hall, sits behind the main house in a peaceful and well-tended garden. The center is a 5-10 minute walk from the Ashby BART station, and street parking is also available on Martin Luther King Boulevard, Milvia, and Oregon. The center kindly requests that visitors do not park on Russell Ave out of respect for neighbors. The Center does not offer overnight or residential programs.

Zen

the Path

Zen Buddhism is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China and has spread to other countries in Asia and beyond. Zen emphasizes direct experience and personal realization through meditation and other spiritual practices, rather than relying on scriptures or other external sources of authority. The goal of Zen Buddhism is enlightenment, or understanding one's true nature and attaining liberation from suffering. This is typically achieved through the practice of zazen, or seated meditation, which is said to help practitioners develop concentration, clarity of mind, and insight into the nature of reality.

Zen practice also often includes other spiritual practices such as koans, chanting, and physical disciplines such as martial arts or gardening. Zen teachings often emphasize the importance of living in the present moment, practicing compassion and kindness towards others, and finding one's own path to enlightenment rather than following a prescribed set of beliefs or practices.

‍

Zen

Path

Buddhism

Tradition

Buddhism

Language

Center

Type of Place

the Place

and its People

Located in a shingled-house on a quiet street in South Berkeley, Berkeley Zen Center offers a haven of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. The zendo, or meditation hall, sits behind the main house in a peaceful and well-tended garden. The center is a 5-10 minute walk from the Ashby BART station, and street parking is also available on Martin Luther King Boulevard, Milvia, and Oregon. The center kindly requests that visitors do not park on Russell Ave out of respect for neighbors. The Center does not offer overnight or residential programs.

Zen

the Path

Zen Buddhism is a form of Mahayana Buddhism that originated in China and has spread to other countries in Asia and beyond. Zen emphasizes direct experience and personal realization through meditation and other spiritual practices, rather than relying on scriptures or other external sources of authority. The goal of Zen Buddhism is enlightenment, or understanding one's true nature and attaining liberation from suffering. This is typically achieved through the practice of zazen, or seated meditation, which is said to help practitioners develop concentration, clarity of mind, and insight into the nature of reality.

Zen practice also often includes other spiritual practices such as koans, chanting, and physical disciplines such as martial arts or gardening. Zen teachings often emphasize the importance of living in the present moment, practicing compassion and kindness towards others, and finding one's own path to enlightenment rather than following a prescribed set of beliefs or practices.

‍

the Place

and its People

Located in a shingled-house on a quiet street in South Berkeley, Berkeley Zen Center offers a haven of serenity amidst the hustle and bustle of the Bay Area. The zendo, or meditation hall, sits behind the main house in a peaceful and well-tended garden. The center is a 5-10 minute walk from the Ashby BART station, and street parking is also available on Martin Luther King Boulevard, Milvia, and Oregon. The center kindly requests that visitors do not park on Russell Ave out of respect for neighbors. The Center does not offer overnight or residential programs.

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the Organization

Details

berkeleyzencenter.org lauriesenauke@gmail.com

1931 Russell St

Berkeley

,

94703

United States

Please ask the Place for the exact address.

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proudly written by

Derek Bergmann

Derek Bergmann is a secondary teacher and writer focusing on philosophy and religious studies. Though he currently call Los Angeles home, Derek grew up in the Bay Area and also spent some time living in a religious commune in Switzerland. Derek is fascinated by peoples' diverse and idiosyncratic relationships with the transcendent, and is always eager to explore the sacred practices and places that serve as bridges to fullness.

Berkeley Zen Center

Berkeley

,

United States

Berkeley Zen Center (BZC) is a Soto Zen Buddhist meditation and community center established in Berkeley in 1979 by Sojun Mel Weitsman Roshi. Housed in a warm home in South Berkeley, just down the street from Berkeley Bowl, the center offers a number of introductory meditation courses as well as more intensive half, full, and multi-day sittings.

Tradition & Practice

Buddhism

Zen

Kind of Place

Center