Welcome Home
Clouds in Water is a vibrant and inclusive congregation in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition, with a mission to awaken the heart of great wisdom and compassion.
Founded in 1994, we regularly offer meditation, classes, and retreats. We are located in the historic Rondo neighborhood of St. Paul, and everywhere via Zoom. We welcome people of all backgrounds and faiths.
Deep bows to everyone who supported our 30-Hour Sit-A-Thon!
Our community and supporters raised over $43,000 to keep Clouds a thriving sanctuary in the Cities.
Over 160 of you showed up in person or on Zoom to sit for peace - some for 30 minutes, others for 10, 12, or even 30 hours!
Thank you for your generosity and heartfelt practice. May the merit of this practice have a ripple effect in our lives and the world at large!
Featuring
The musical duo of Davu Seru and Dean McGraw - improvisational musicians who make use of various folk and modern traditions, including blues and jazz
Delicious mocktails and hearty appetizers
Warm reflections on our journey to today and our hopes for our future
An online auction with an array of offerings to delight the senses
You’re invited to the party of the year!
Reflecting the Dharma for Thirty Years:
Clouds in Water Zen Center 30th Anniversary Celebration
In celebration of our 30th anniversary, please join us for a special evening to recognize our decades of being!
When: Saturday, April 27, 2024
Time: 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Where: Clouds in Water Zen Center
All proceeds support the work of Clouds in Water!
Meditation
Zazen (meditation) is at the heart of our practice. We have offerings throughout the week in person and on zoom. We also offer sesshins (retreats) throughout the year, at Clouds and at our retreat center, Hokyoji.
All levels of experience are welcome!
Study
There is always a class, workshop, or practice group happening at Clouds! In addition to our Fall and Spring practice periods, we offer classes on anything from karma to the precepts to embodied social justice.
Community
Our sangha - community - is made up of a diverse groups of folks from all over the Twin Cities (and the country, via Zoom). We gather together every Sunday and have many opportunities to connect through our classes, practice groups, and sesshins (retreats).
Grow their compassion
and wisdom
Our youth and family programming offers spiritual support for infants, children, teens, and their families! If you’re looking for a place where acceptance and basic goodness is centered, welcome!
Zen in the real world
We are lay-practitioners with families, jobs, careers, and a host of responsibilities in our lives. Finding time to be spiritually engaged can be tough, and community - sangha - is how we do that.
Clouds in Water seeks to support you where you’re at. We have Friday Night Zen for young(ish) folks, a thriving BIPOC sangha, 12-Step Mindfulness, Racial Awareness Groups, and opportunities for engaged Buddhism through our Bridge Social Justice and Community Care Action Group.
Some of us sit on cushions, some of us lie on yoga mats. Some folks love traditional chanting in formal services and others prefer connecting casually in affinity groups.
There are some members who have taken formal Buddhist vows, and many who have not. Whether you’re looking for a bit of refuge or a robust spiritual practice, Clouds can support you.
Whatever your circumstances and interests, you can sit with us.
Social Justice and Engaged Buddhism
At Clouds in Water, we take our practice off the cushion and into the world.
Our unique approach in the Zen world to centering social justice, interrupting systemic violence, and activating our sangha to consider engaged Buddhism as part of their practice is at the heart of our mission.
From supporting our BIPOC members through the BIPOC sangha, Race, Love, and Liberation Lab, and fiscally sponsoring Deep Listening for Social Change to the in-the-trenches work of our Bridge Social Justice and Community Care and Racial Awareness Groups, we seek to truly cultivate the heart of deep wisdom and compassion for a more just world.
Member of the Soto Zen Buddhist Association
