Home2024-08-30T09:17:14-07:00

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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.

View our schedule of in-person and online Group Meditation

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 9:30 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 10:00 am. (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

Three Day Retreat, October 18 – 202024-09-24T09:12:32-07:00

Daily 7 am – 4:30 pm Pacific Time.

Beginning Friday, October 18, we will gather our online and in-person communities for a 3-day group practice, a Dharma talk, and personal Dharma dialogues with Paul Gulick, JDSPN.

We welcome you to join us for all or part of the 3-day period.

More Information and Registration

Fall Dharma Study Group: The Mirror of Zen2024-09-29T16:59:36-07:00

The fall Dharma study group has now scheduled a short course on Monday evenings from 7-8:30 pm. (Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11). The course will meet in person at Blue Heron with an online option.

The theme will be “The Mirror of Zen” by the 16th century Korean Zen Master So Sahn. We’ll use the Shambhala Press edition of 2006. This text presents core principles and teachings of Zen Buddhism. The teachers/facilitators will be Jim Peacey SDT and Gerald Seminatore DT.

No prior reading or study outside of the group time will be needed for full participation. Participate in any or as many sessions as you can.

Online Dharma Dialogue Opportunities2024-08-30T09:14:39-07:00

Zen Master Jeong Bong offers 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 Zen Master Jeong Bong.

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 JDPSN eisengn@gmail.com
Paul Gulick JDPSN paul@blueheronzen.org
John Craycraft johnc@blueheronzen.org
Jim Peacey jim@blueheronzen.org

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