Cloud Zendo Sangha
Ping An Wu Shi Temple
Welcome
Cloud Zendo Sangha is dedicated to the study of Buddha’s teaching and the practice of Zen meditation. We invite newcomers and experienced Zen students to join us for meditation, chanting, koan study, dharma talks, and community activities.
What We Offer
Twice-monthly zazen (seated meditation) sessions, in person only, on the first and third Saturdays of the month. We begin at 9 AM
One-day retreats — usually on the third Saturday of the month.
Dharma talks by experienced teachers.
Instruction for anyone new to Zen practice. Drop by 30 minutes early (8:30 AM) on the first Saturday of the month for meditation instruction.
Community support and discussion forums.
Zazen Practice
Our practice form includes:
Two 25-minute periods of seated meditation. The first period includes the chanting of traditional Zen texts. Cushions and chairs are provided.
10 minutes of walking meditation (kinhin) between sitting periods.
A Dharma talk typically follows zazen, with time set aside for questions and discussion.
Ping An Wu Shi Temple
Our temple name was inspired by a Chinese scroll, a gift from Tenshin Reb Anderson Roshi, a teacher in the Shunryu Suzuki Roshi lineage. The calligraphy was brushed by the late Chan teacher Master Sheng Yen, founder of the Dharma Drum Mountain lineage.
Ping An Wu Shi means “peace and freedom from troubles,” according to Master Sheng Yen. A member of Cloud Zendo has also translated it to as, “safe refuge, empty vessel.” In China we understand the phrase is used in a practical, everyday context to convey a sense that “all is well,” “safe and sound.”
We aspire as a community to provide a peaceful refuge for the collective practice of Buddha dharma. We vow to follow the path of conscious cultivation of a nondual experience in the world, living in accord with the bodhisattva precepts and the way things are. This is the core of our practice, vowing to help each other and all beings transform emotional turmoil, mental conflict, greed, hatred and ignorance into peace and freedom.
A spring unseen of men, -
The flowering plum tree
On the back of this mirror
- Basho