Soto Zen Buddhist Meditation in Chicago
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is a community of engaged buddhist practitioners committed to Soto Zen meditation practice in the tradition of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi and is a Branching Stream of San Francisco Zen Center. Our meditation practice, zazen, is cultivated for the benefit of all life and our great earth.
We endeavour to create a welcoming practice community in Chicago and online that is a refuge and support for showing up in our lives with the awakened awareness and creative vitality that flow from zen meditation.
COME SIT WITH US! Everyone is welcome to attend any of our in-person, online, and hybrid regular meditation practice events. To get acquainted, you are warmly invited to request personal meditation instruction and temple orientation.
Featured Events
JUKAI CEREMONY: RECEIVING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS – Sunday, September 22, 2024 @ 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Join us for a jukai ceremony where four sangha members formally receive the sixteen Bodhisattva precepts. This ceremony will be hybrid in our Lincoln Square Zendo and in our Online Zendo. There will be a formal reception afterwards.
WEDNESDAY EVENING IN-PERSON ZAZEN – Wednesday, September 25, 2024 @ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Ancient Dragon will begin hosting a Wednesday evening in-person only program consisting of two periods of zazen, separated by a brief interval, and followed by a recitation of the Pali refuges. Please join us!
BOARD MEETING – Sunday, September 29, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Meeting of the Ancient Dragon board in our Online Zendo. All are welcome to attend.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Reflections on the Five Remembrances
ADZG 1206 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Eishin Nancy Easton
Featured News
SEMINAR ON PRACTICING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS
Our guiding teacher, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, will lead a six-week seminar on practicing the Bodhisattva precepts on Thursday evenings beginning October 10. Please see our calendar listing for more information and to register for the seminar.
NEW WEEKLY WEDNESDAY EVENING SITTING
Starting on Wednesday, September 25, Ancient Dragon will offer a new weekly Wednesday evening sitting in-person only at our Lincoln Square Zendo. The sitting will consist of two 25-minute periods of zazen followed by the recitation of the Pali refgues. See our website calendar for more information – we hope you can join us!
ANCIENT DRAGON COVID RECOMMENDATIONS
Respiratory virus season is upon us!! If you think you are ill or have a recent exposure, please attend online. In the zendo, we will be opening windows, so please dress in layers and follow CDC protocol in this infographic (click to enlarge). Also, please see our COVID recommendations here compiled by sangha member Chris Cadman as part of our Sangha Care Committee.
ANCIENT DRAGON SEEKING NEW WEBMASTER
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is looking for a new webmaster to update the content on our WordPress website and monitor event registrations. The webmaster position includes a small monthly stipend. Please email info@ancientdragon.org or speak to Hōgetsu for more information.
FAITH IN PLACE ENVIRONMENT AND SPIRITUALITY SUMMIT
This year, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is supporting Faith in Place as a sponsor of their Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit, to be held Sept 22-24. The Summit is fully accessible on Zoom with local watch parties hosted in Illinois, Indiana & Wisconsin. The Summit will feature five inspiring conversations that delve into the intersection of spirituality, the environment and social justice. Register for free here: bit.ly/aes-summit-2024
TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON’S CONTINUED TEACHING
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, continues to offer his dharma in many offerings. See the Taigen’s Seminars page for an updated list of seminars offered at Ancient Dragon and elsewhere. As well, click here to visit Taigen’s website, containing a rich library of his offerings.
Featured Events
JUKAI CEREMONY: RECEIVING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS – Sunday, September 22, 2024 @ 1:30 PM – 3:30 PM
Join us for a jukai ceremony where four sangha members formally receive the sixteen Bodhisattva precepts. This ceremony will be hybrid in our Lincoln Square Zendo and in our Online Zendo. There will be a formal reception afterwards.
WEDNESDAY EVENING IN-PERSON ZAZEN – Wednesday, September 25, 2024 @ 7:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Ancient Dragon will begin hosting a Wednesday evening in-person only program consisting of two periods of zazen, separated by a brief interval, and followed by a recitation of the Pali refuges. Please join us!
BOARD MEETING – Sunday, September 29, 2024 @ 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Meeting of the Ancient Dragon board in our Online Zendo. All are welcome to attend.
Latest Dharma Podcast Episode
Reflections on the Five Remembrances
ADZG 1206 ADZG Sunday Morning Dharma Talk by Eishin Nancy Easton
Featured News
SEMINAR ON PRACTICING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS
Our guiding teacher, Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, will lead a six-week seminar on practicing the Bodhisattva precepts on Thursday evenings beginning October 10. Please see our calendar listing for more information and to register for the seminar.
NEW WEEKLY WEDNESDAY EVENING SITTING
Starting on Wednesday, September 25, Ancient Dragon will offer a new weekly Wednesday evening sitting in-person only at our Lincoln Square Zendo. The sitting will consist of two 25-minute periods of zazen followed by the recitation of the Pali refgues. See our website calendar for more information – we hope you can join us!
ANCIENT DRAGON COVID RECOMMENDATIONS
Respiratory virus season is upon us!! If you think you are ill or have a recent exposure, please attend online. In the zendo, we will be opening windows, so please dress in layers and follow CDC protocol in this infographic (click to enlarge). Also, please see our COVID recommendations here compiled by sangha member Chris Cadman as part of our Sangha Care Committee.
ANCIENT DRAGON SEEKING NEW WEBMASTER
Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is looking for a new webmaster to update the content on our WordPress website and monitor event registrations. The webmaster position includes a small monthly stipend. Please email info@ancientdragon.org or speak to Hōgetsu for more information.
FAITH IN PLACE ENVIRONMENT AND SPIRITUALITY SUMMIT
This year, Ancient Dragon Zen Gate is supporting Faith in Place as a sponsor of their Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit, to be held Sept 22-24. The Summit is fully accessible on Zoom with local watch parties hosted in Illinois, Indiana & Wisconsin. The Summit will feature five inspiring conversations that delve into the intersection of spirituality, the environment and social justice. Register for free here: bit.ly/aes-summit-2024
TAIGEN DAN LEIGHTON’S CONTINUED TEACHING
Our guiding teacher emeritus, Taigen Dan Leighton, continues to offer his dharma in many offerings. See the Taigen’s Seminars page for an updated list of seminars offered at Ancient Dragon and elsewhere. As well, click here to visit Taigen’s website, containing a rich library of his offerings.
