Zen Center Village Zendo — Local services in New York

It is difficult to convey in words the appreciation and gratitude that we feel as human beings for the places that have influenced us in deep and often unseen or unnoticed ways.

I wandered into the Village Zendo a few years ago and was immediately struck by the informal casual nature of the place. In short, I felt at home right away.

In a city as chaotic as NYC, it is hard to find places of refuge. We have Central Park but it feels artificial. There are some tucked away quiet places scattered throughout the island of Manhattan of course. Somehow, the Village Zendo has carved out a special place right in the middle of all it. Enkyo Roshi has been quoted to the question "What is your practice?" by simply saying "Manhattan". Well, practice continues, and what a beautiful practice it is.

I encourage anyone to stop by and see for yourself this special place, which reveals itself through the dedication on display by the loving teachers and practice participants on a daily basis. The Sangha is here to support all beings in their quest, whatever that may...

I've been meditating at the Village Zendo for about ten years. They provide a beautiful, quiet space for meditation along with whatever level of support you need or want. This warm community is a queer and female friendly space.

I needed some structure and motivation for my practice so I could bring serenity to my stressful work days and commutes, having a regular meditation practice has helped with that so much! I picked this group simply because the location and timing worked for my life. In particular, I love that there are evening sessions that I can get to after work. If you arrive late you can't enter the main room immediately, but after the first sit, which is about 20 minutes, you can enter. This works well for me because sometimes I have to work late and can't arrive right on time. There are three sits in the evening sessions, so if you've had enough or have to get somewhere and can't stay the whole time, you can always head out in between the sits. I highly recommend coming by...

I attended my first Buddhist Sunday service here today and it was lovely. I will undoubtedly be returning the following week, as both teachers & students alike were welcoming, helpful (as I am new to the customers of the zen tradition, they showed me proper forms and etiquette, while being patient enough when I did forget something). Following a brief introductory service, we did a 30 min zazen, (sitting meditation in the zen style) followed by a kishin (walking meditation) for about 10 minutes, then back to another 30 min zazen, and closing with a final kishin. As a newcomer, I was offered to see a teacher for a private interview in which I was able to ask any question about the zendo or Buddhism at large—truly, it was everything I had hoped for in looking for a sangha. There were also people of multiple ages and levels of practice so don’t feel nervous, just come on in on a Sunday morning. That’s what I did, and it was lovely. Thank you all again for your...