Blue Heron Zen Community welcomes you just as you are.

We are an easy-going, friendly community of lay Zen students, physically located in Seattle, Washington, although our online Sangha is far broader. Please join us! Our meditation practice is rooted in the Korean Zen tradition, in the lineage of Zen Master Seung Sahn. Our teachings, forms and meditation practices are open to all people regardless of religious or cultural background. We strive to be an open community by practicing inclusivity with a home-grown community flavor of gentleness, sincerity, good humor and flexibility. Come and visit — our mind/heart doors are open.

We offer group meditation, retreats, talks, and other activities with the simple goal of inspiring and supporting your own efforts to perceive your true nature. The programs at Blue Heron Zen Community can help you begin and sustain a rewarding Zen meditation practice.

Getting Started

With simplicity and wonder, Zen means discovering the true nature of reality. But to truly understand Zen, you must try it for yourself.

If you’re the type of person that likes to jump in with both feet, you are welcome to come to any of our practice times and just join in. Welcome to our sangha and our practice home. There is never a charge for regularly scheduled practice, although donations are gratefully accepted.

If you would like an introduction to our practice, please join us at 10:30 am on Sundays for an orientation with a Dharma Teacher at Blue Heron Zen Community. This in-person session introduces Zen practice and answers your questions. This is followed by our regular Sunday practice at 11:00 am – 12:00 pm. (If you cannot join an introduction on Sundays, contact us for other options, or come 10 minutes early to any practice.)

What’s Going On

Class “The Compass of Zen: A Korean Lineage Tradition” online Sept 5 – 26Bob Werner2023-08-31T17:26:23-07:00

Class “The Compass of Zen: A Korean Lineage Tradition” online Sept 5 – 26

Zen Master Jeong Ji is teaching an online class, The Compass of Zen: A Korean Lineage Tradition, on Tuesdays, September 5 – September 26, 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm Pacific Time.

This class, sponsored by the San Francisco Zen Center, will focus on our Korean Zen lineage, with an in-depth look at our core teachings and practices such as The Compass of Zen, Kong-an and Hwa-do training, along with our unique innovations as we adapt to contemporary times in the West.

Online registration is available at https://www.sfzc.org/calendar/events/online/compass-zen-korean-lineage-tradition-online-95-926 Please note that there is a charge for the class.

Three Day Retreat, October 20 – 22Bob Werner2023-09-20T15:21:33-07:00

Three Day Retreat, October 20 – 22

Daily 7 am – 4:30 pm Pacific Time.

Beginning Friday, October 20, we will gather our online and in-person communities for a 3-day group practice, a Dharma talk, and personal Dharma dialogues with Zen Master Jeong Bong. We welcome you to join us for all or part of the 3-day period.

More Information and Registration

“Exquisite Corpse” Poetry from the 9-Day RetreatBob Werner2023-08-30T21:19:27-07:00

“Exquisite Corpse” Poetry from the 9-Day Retreat

Participants in the 9-Day Retreat (which ran from Aug 19 – 27) engaged in a bit of exquisite corpse poetry, based on a poem in one of our kong-ans:
How many people stay in a worrying dream?
The great one’s original home is everywhere.
One KATZ! sound breaks the whole world.
Plum flowers fly in the snow.

The rules were simple: follow the form of this poem which progresses through points on the Zen Circle. Each line was written by a different person who did not know what was written previously.

We hope you enjoy some selections from our flight of whimsy as much as we enjoyed creating them.

Dharma Talk First Sunday of Each MonthBob Werner2023-07-30T17:01:56-07:00

Dharma Talk First Sunday of Each Month

There is a Dharma Talk on the first Sunday of each month during the 9:00am hybrid practice session. The format will include a talk by a Dharma Teacher or other BHZC senior member. This will be followed by Q&A with Zen Master Jeong Ji or Eric Nord, JDPSN, together with the presenter. Please bring any question that you have about the talk, or another Zen question you would like to ask.

Online Dharma Dialogue OpportunitiesBob Werner2023-09-20T15:15:46-07:00

Online Dharma Dialogue Opportunities

Zen Masters Jeong Ji and Jeong Bong offer online Dharma Dialogues in addition to in-person interviews. If you cannot attend an in-person Dharma Dialogue, we encourage you to sign up for an online Dharma Dialogue. Sign up here with Jeong Ji Soen Sa or here with Jeong Bong Soen Sa.

Our Senior Dharma Teachers also offer Online Dharma Dialogues. You may schedule an appointment by reaching out to them directly.
Jeff Tipp JDPSN jefftipp@gmail.com
Greg Eisen eisengn@gmail.com
Paul Gulick paul@blueheronzen.org
John Craycraft john.craycraft@comcast.net
Chris Chapman chris@blueheronzen.org

Residential Training OpportunityBob Werner2023-04-06T09:38:43-07:00

Residential Training Opportunity

Blue Heron Zen Community has openings for residential Zen training at our Center. Residence offers an opportunity to deepen one’s Zen practice. Prospective residents are expected to have a strong commitment to Zen. For more information, please see our Resident Guidelines. If you’d like to discuss becoming a resident at Blue Heron, please contact Abbott Paul Gulick or Zen Master Jeong Ji.