Clouds In Water Zen Center

A vibrant urban community in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition dedicated to awakening the heart of great wisdom and compassion. We welcome people of all backgrounds and faiths.

Beginning May 1, Clouds in Water will be offering an in-person Orientation and Intro to Meditation every Sunday from 8:30-8:50am CT in the Zendo. Masks required for Sunday program.

Schedule for Meditation & Groups

Classes

Overview of 2022-2023 Offerings

Click below for an overview of upcoming classes, sesshin, retreats, workshops and more. 2022 2023

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Intro to Meditation & Zen Buddhism – Sept 17

This class offers an introduction to meditation and Zen Buddhism. We will cover how to meditate, how to set up a meditation space at home, basic Buddhist terms and teachings, and an overview of the Clouds in Water community. There will also be time for practice and conversation.

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Fall Youth Practice – Oct 2-Dec 11

We will be hosting Grades 1-6 in person every other Sunday from 9:00 to 10:45 AM, while the parents/guardians are in the zendo for the Sunday service. For the children, we do the first 40 minutes or so as a sort of interactive slideshow with various group activities.

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Fall Teen Practice – Oct 2-Dec 11

The Teen Group (grades 7-12) is a combination of basic Buddhist teachings, fun activities, and social time. We practice inclusivity, self-awareness, and basic values such as honesty, patience, and compassion, as they relate to teen life. Although we will practice some Zen forms, you need not consider yourself a Buddhist to attend.

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Fall Family Practice – Oct 9-Dec 4

Zen Family Practice gathers every other Sunday morning. Caregivers learn alongside their children. We practice Zen through songs, movement, stories, simple meditations, a mindful snack, and free play. We learn how to slow down and live deliberately within a sometimes chaotic world. Families of all religious backgrounds are welcome!

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Fall Practice Period – Manifesting the Bodhisattva Way: Enacting the Paramitas in Daily Life – Oct 9-Nov 27

Practice Period is a time when the whole community comes together with practice energy, encouraging participants to make commitments to daily practice, Sunday service and community events. This practice period, we will be studying the Six Paramitas. The Six Paramitas, or transcendent perfections, are a central teaching of Zen Buddhism. They are a path to enlightenment, the fruition of the bodhisattva way, and a means to benefit sentient beings.

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Repatterning Whiteness: Shifting Culture from the Inside-Out – Oct 13-Dec 1

We all crave a community that feels like home. For white Sangha members, it is our responsibility to ensure that unconscious expressions of whiteness do not make our beloved community inhospitable to Black, Indigenous, and POC members and participants. Are you feeling stuck, confused, or at a loss for how to do this? Join us for seven weeks of practice, support, and inquiry with facilitators Laura Levinson of Don’t You Feel It Too? and Sosan Flynn of Clouds in Water Zen Center.

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Intro to Meditation & Zen Buddhism – October 15

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October 1-Day Sesshin – Oct 21 – Oct 22

Sesshin, which means “collecting the heart/mind”, provides a rare chance to step into a sanctuary of stillness, to close the door for a little while on the cacophony, and to appreciate the freedom and spaciousness of life in the present. Whether you are a beginner or experienced practitioner, we hope you will consider joining this wonderful practice.

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November Half Day Sesshin – Nov 12

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Dharma Talks

Mindfulness of Your Body: The Foundation for Equity and Connection

Dharma talk by Laura Levinson and Sosan Flynn on Sunday, September 18, 2022. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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Making your Practice Personal

Dharma talk by Koji Acquaviva on Sunday, September 11, 2022. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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No Matter Where You Go, Here You Are

Dharma talk by Myo On Susan Hagler on Sunday, September 4, 2022. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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Manifesting the Sangha Jewel

Dharma talk by Sosan Flynn, Koji Aquaviva, and Minna Jain on Sunday, August 28, 2022. Podcast: Play in new window | Download Subscribe Apple Podcasts | RSS | More

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