Shodo means “way of writing," but there is much more here than meets the eye. Our focus is on the meditative aspects of this form of calligraphy. We will start by practicing basic strokes while focusing on posture, breath and observing how the subtleties in aesthetics are affected by our own condition.

Join us as we turn our attention to developing the characters in the Heart Sutra. The session also includes two periods of zazen (seated meditation).

Beginners welcome and materials are provided.

Requested donation $40 for non-Members.

Limited Capacity. To RSVP,  click here

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal. 

Rising Moon Warriors offers a unique blend of traditional Japanese martial arts and Zen practices to cultivate discipline, self-defense skills, and inner peace.

Our classes, tailored for children ages 5 to 12, are organized into age-specific groups to ensure each child receives the appropriate instruction and attention during our one-hour sessions.

Requested donation $30/month
Click here for more information.

Beginner's Meditation workshop—An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
Led by Tesshin Brand Roshi (Tesshin Hozan), the abbot of Daiyuzenji.

Join us for a practical session designed to help you start and maintain a regular meditation practice, regardless of your experience level. This workshop provides an accessible entry into Zen Buddhism. It includes a copy of "Introduction to Zen Training: A Physical Approach to Meditation and Mind-Body Training (The Classic Rinzai Zen Manual)," with a suggested donation of $40.

Introduction to Zen Training is a translation of the Sanzen Nyumon, a foundational text for beginning meditation students by Omori Sogen—one of the foremost Zen teachers. Omori Sogen Roshi is the dharma predecessor of Dogen Hosokawa Roshi, founder of Daiyuzenji.

Spaces are limited, RSVP to secure your spot!
No experience necessary. 

To RSVP, click here.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal.

Discover the art of Aikido at our Open House on Wednesday, September 25, from 7-9 pm.

This event is an opportunity to explore this dynamic martial art, which emphasizes blending with an opponent's energy and redirecting it with fluid movements. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, come meet our instructor, watch demonstrations, and try out some basic techniques. 

All are welcome to join us for an evening of learning and community.

Aikido can be practiced safely and successfully by all, regardless of age, size, or strength. No experience necessary.

To RSVP, click here

AIKIDO KENSHIN DOJO

Founded in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido is a potent distillation of centuries of martial knowledge, transmitting the most noble teachings of Japan's samurai tradition. The guiding principles make it more than just a set of techniques for combat or self-defense. Aikido is a martial art that trains to integrate the mind and body, serving as a transformative practice for deep personal development. The art's philosophy seeks to avoid harming others whenever possible.

The training emphasizes decisive techniques of defense (throws, joint-locks, strikes, and immobilizations) as well as the use of, and defense against, weapons (long sword, staff, and knife). Practice is conducted primarily through kata (pre-arranged series of movements), performed cooperatively by two practitioners who switch roles in receiving and performing the technique. A variety of other exercises are used to build awareness, correct posture and movement, and fitness. The mechanics of Aikido are based on refined, unforced movements using the entire body, which allow Aikido to be practiced safely and successfully by all, regardless of age, size, or strength.

Instructor: Seion Vandever, 2nd Dan; Aikido Kenshin Dojo

Class Schedule:

• Mondays 6 - 7:30 PM

• Wednesdays 7 - 9 PM

  • Intro to Aikido (Empty Hand) 7 - 8 PM

  • Intro to Aikido Weapons 8 -9 PM

• Sundays 12 - 1 PM

This class is available to all Daiyuzenji members.

Requested Donation for non-members: $20 per class or $35 per week

To register or for any questions, email: aikidokenshindojo@gmail.com

Discover the art of Aikido at our Open House on Sunday, September 22, from 12 - 1 pm.

This event is an opportunity to explore this dynamic martial art, which emphasizes blending with an opponent's energy and redirecting it with fluid movements. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience, meet our instructor, watch demonstrations, and try out some basic techniques.

All are welcome to join us for an evening of learning and community.

Aikido can be practiced safely and successfully by all, regardless of age, size, or strength.
No experience necessary.

Instructor: Seion Vandever, 2nd Dan; Aikido Kenshin Dojo

Class Schedule: Attendance on all three days is not required.

• Mondays 6 - 7:30 PM

• Wednesdays 7 - 9 PM

• Intro to Aikido (Empty Hand) 7 - 8 PM

  1. Intro to Aikido Weapons 8 -9 PM

• Sundays 12 - 1 PM

To RSVP, click here.

AIKIDO KENSHIN DOJO

Founded in the early 20th century by Morihei Ueshiba, Aikido is a potent distillation of centuries of martial knowledge, transmitting the most noble teachings of Japan's samurai tradition. The guiding principles make it more than just a set of techniques for combat or self-defense. Aikido is a martial art that trains to integrate the mind and body, serving as a transformative practice for deep personal development. The art's philosophy seeks to avoid harming others whenever possible.

The training emphasizes decisive techniques of defense (throws, joint-locks, strikes, and immobilizations) as well as the use of, and defense against, weapons (long sword, staff, and knife). Practice is conducted primarily through kata (pre-arranged series of movements), performed cooperatively by two practitioners who switch roles in receiving and performing the technique. A variety of other exercises are used to build awareness, correct posture and movement, and fitness. The mechanics of Aikido are based on refined, unforced movements using the entire body, which allow Aikido to be practiced safely and successfully by all, regardless of age, size, or strength.

Ashtanga Yoga is one of the original systems of yoga developed by Pattabhi Jois, who studied under Krishnamacharya, the Father of Modern Yoga. This practice follows a set sequence of poses—including standing, balancing, seated, backbends, and inversions—that can be modified to suit beginners. The primary series, which we will focus on, is particularly beneficial for stretching the hamstrings and opening the hips.

Ashtanga is a powerful practice that integrates poses (asanas), breath control (ujjayi pranayama), focused gaze (drishti), and energy locks (bandhas) to cultivate inward focus (pratyahara). This practice helps build long, lean muscles, enhances balance and flexibility, oxygenates the body, stimulates the lymphatic system, calms the nervous system, and moves energy through the 12 channels of the body.

Join us in this dynamic and meditative practice to cultivate physical and mental well-being. 

Bring Your yoga mats, blocks, and straps.

Beginners are welcome.

Sundays, starting September 22, 10:45 AM - 11:45 AM

Class Structure:

• Opening Chant & Om: Optional, to center and prepare for practice

• Ashtanga Vinyasa Practice: The core of the class, focusing on the primary series

• Closing Chant & Om: Optional, to conclude the practice

• Savasana: A final relaxation pose with a sound bowl to deepen the experience
  

Ashtanga Yoga Instructor Perry Galanopoulos

Perry's journey into Ashtanga yoga began through his herbal supplement company, where he first encountered the practice. Years of sports injuries had taken a toll on his body, and he turned to Ashtanga and Yin yoga as a way to rehabilitate. The impact was transformative—not only did yoga help him heal physically, but it also had a profound effect on his mind and spirit. Inspired by this experience, Perry pursued his passion further, traveling to Guatemala to earn his 200-hour Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Alliance certification under Doron Hanoch. After taking some downtime for a necessary surgery, Perry is excited to start teaching at Daiyuzenji this fall. He continues to deepen his practice through a 74-hour Ashtanga Immersion course.

Requested Donation for non-members $20. Please donate via Paypal.

To Sign-up Click Here.

The Hojo Kata is used as an embodied method at Daiyuzenji to help practitioners unify the breath, mind, and body and ground them in a vigorous, immersive physical activity, cutting off habits and ultimately helping in the realization through these methods:

• Correct breathing

• Correct posture

• Correct frame of mind

The Hojo kata is a series of slow, meditative sword forms we use in conjunction with our other Zen practices to develop energetic intensity in movement, breathing, and focus.

This session will focus on the most fundamental aspects of Hojo and is completely accessible to beginners; anyone interested in exploring the connection between breath, posture, movement and meditation will thus be able to benefit from the workshop. The session also includes two periods of zazen (seated meditation).

As Daiyuzenji members know, our lineage is unique in its emphasis on the embodied elements of Zen practice, and this is why we are one of very few Zen temples in the USA at which the Hojo kata can be learned and experienced.

Requested donation $40 for non-Members.

Limited Capacity. To RSVP,  click here

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal. 

Soup and Rice Social

A Daiyuzenji Community Gathering and Open House

Join us for the Daiyuzenji Community Social and Open House! Friends, partners, family, and neighbors are invited to an afternoon of camaraderie. Discover what makes our community special, explore our space, meet our members, and learn more about what we do.

Enjoy rice and soup lovingly prepared by our community members as you mingle and connect with others.

To RSVP, click here.

Beginner's Meditation workshop—An Introduction to Zen Buddhism

Join us for a practical session where you'll learn techniques to start a regular meditation practice, no matter your experience level.

This workshop offers an accessible entry into Zen Buddhism.
No experience necessary. 

To RSVP, click here.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal.

Daiyuzenji Study Group Surangama Sutra Course Beginning Sunday, June 30

Join us as we begin reading and discussing The Surangama (Shurangama) Sutra - A New Translation with Excerpts from the Commentary by the Venerable Master Hsuan Hua, presented by the Buddhist Text Translation Society. This profound text is a cornerstone of Mahayana Buddhist literature.
It gives instruction in the correct understanding of the Buddha-nature, which is the potential within all beings for becoming a Buddha. The Sūtra explains how and why this true nature is hidden within our ordinary experience of ourselves and the world, and it shows how we can uncover this nature and recognize that it is our own true mind.

Sundays 9:30 - 10:15 AM starting Sunday, June 30.
Meetings are online via Zoom.
RSVP here to request the link. 

Illustration from the Shurangama Sutra, printed in 1547

Soup and Rice Social

A Daiyuzenji Community Gathering and Open House

Join us for the Daiyuzenji Community Social and Open House! Friends, partners, family, and neighbors are invited to an afternoon of camaraderie. Discover what makes our community special, explore our space, meet our members, and learn more about what we do.

Enjoy rice and soup lovingly prepared by our community members as you mingle and connect with others.

To RSVP, click here.

Join us for a talk led by Tesshin Brand Roshi, the Abbot of Daiyuzenji. Tesshin Roshi's objective is to share with us the idea that Zen is for everyday people in this workday world of ours. No one has to retire to a monastery or a quiet place to achieve balanced mental health, equilibrium, and tranquility, as they can be acquired right here and right now.

Recommended Books
Introduction to Zen Training: A Physical Approach to Meditation and Mind-Body Training (The Classic Rinzai Zen Manual) by Omori Sogen
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula

Saturday, June 1, 2024

Harold Washington Library Center
400 S. State St. Chicago IL 60605
7th Floor, Chicago Authors Room

For more information, click here.

Beginner's Meditation workshop—An Introduction to Zen Buddhism

Join us for a practical session where you'll learn techniques to start a regular meditation practice, no matter your experience level.

This workshop offers an accessible entry into Zen Buddhism.
No experience necessary. 

To RSVP, click here.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal.

Soup and Rice Social:
A Daiyuzenji Community Gathering and Open House

Join us for the Daiyuzenji Community Social and Open House! Friends, partners, family, and neighbors are invited to an afternoon of camaraderie. Discover what makes our community special, explore our space, meet our members, and learn more about what we do.

Enjoy rice and soup lovingly prepared by our community members as you mingle and connect with others.

To RSVP, click here.

If you have trouble accessing the form, please rsvp via email at daiyuzenji@gmail.com

BREATH WORK SEMINAR

Proper use of posture and breath, as well as understanding the key components of the breathing mechanism, are the foundation of a good meditation practice and optimal functioning in all other daily activities.

You will learn a number of various deep breathing patterns as practiced at Daiyuzenji and how you can use them to experience:

• lowered blood pressure and heart rate.

• reduced levels of stress hormones in the blood.

• reduced lactic acid build-up in muscle tissue.

• balanced levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood.

• improved immune system functioning.

• increased physical energy.

• increased feelings of calm and well-being.

Requested donation $40

Limited Capacity. To RSVP, click here

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal.

Shojin Ryori: Buddhist Cooking Demo. Shojin Ryori is a traditional Japanese vegetarian monastic cooking style. 

Join us for a truly unique culinary experience led by Tesshin Brand Roshi, the Abbot (shike) of Daiyuzenji. With profound insight into the revered culinary tradition of Shojin Ryori, as practiced at Daiyuzenji, Roshi will guide you through the art of preparing a wholesome and nourishing meal. Discover the principles, health benefits, and Buddhist values underpinning this revered cooking style—reception to follow.

Join us, learn, eat, and give back. 

Show your support and reserve your seat today—limited capacity. 
Click here to RSVP

The event will be hosted in person at 2112 from 4 pm to 7 pm. The tickets are priced at $50, and all proceeds from this event allow us to continue providing a rare opportunity for monastic-style Rinzai Zen training for those who wish to embark on the path of Zen. If you wish to offer further support to Daiyuzenji, you can make your donations directly through this link.
Daiyuzenji is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

As we enter our new year, we invite you to a very important part of our training tradition.

Join us for our Temple Cleanse, a deep cleaning of our space, washing away the old year and giving us a clean slate for the new. Our Temple Cleanse brings new life to our space and revitalizes our spirits as we welcome in the new year with open hearts and minds.

Tesshin Brand Roshi will share with us what hopes we can cast our wills upon in 2024 and what 2024 means for us in the year of the Dragon. 

Click here to RSVP

This Giving Tuesday, meditate with us to awaken and cultivate generosity in our hearts and minds. Whether you're new to meditation or a seasoned practitioner, everyone is welcome to join us for this special day.

Tuesday, November 28, from 7 P.M. to 9 P.M. CST, we will practice two periods of zazen (seated meditation) followed by shodo (calligraphy).

By participating in this session, you're not only giving yourself the gift of meditation but also helping support our cause. Your support allows us to continue providing a rare opportunity for monastic-style Rinzai Zen training for those who wish to embark on the path of Zen. If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via Paypal.

Suggested Donation $25

RSVP today and experience the magic of generosity.

Please join us as we spend the first and last hour of a seven-hour block on meditation (including sanzen) with 5 hours focused on Shodo in between. We will also provide a delicious mid-day vegan meal.  

Shodo means “way of writing," but there is much more here than meets the eye. Our focus is on the meditative aspects of this beautiful form of writing.  We will start by practicing basic strokes while focusing on posture and breath and observing how the subtleties in aesthetics are affected by our own condition. We will dive deeper into the practice by focusing on developing the characters in the Heart Sutra so that we can begin Shakyo (Sutra copying) practice. 

Beginners are encouraged to attend, as well as more advanced students.

Suggested donation: $40

Limited Capacity. To RSVP, click here.

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal.

Please join us as we host Rev. So’zan Miller Roshi (First Abbot of Daiyuzenji) as he shares his view on Zen-Ken-Sho. 

Zen-Ken-Sho is a principle set forth by Omori Sogen, who became well known for this unique approach to Zen practice, integrating insights from martial and fine arts training with traditional Zen methods as a way to create a balanced life. This approach has been described as a unity of Zen, Ken ("sword," referring to martial arts or physical culture), and Sho ("brush," referring to calligraphy or fine arts).

Suggested donation: $25
If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via Paypal. 

Limited capacity. To RSVP, click here.

Shodo means “way of writing," but there is much more here than meets the eye. Our focus is on the meditative aspects of this beautiful form of writing.  We will start by practicing basic strokes while focusing on posture, breath and observing how the subtleties in aesthetics are affected by our own condition.

Suggested donation: $25

Limited Capacity. To RSVP, email Daiyuzenji@gmail.com

If you are unable to attend but would still like to support, please feel free to donate via PayPal.

For the next 3 months, we will focus on the “Ken” of “Zen-Ken-Sho” set forth by Omori Roshi as a way to create a balanced life.  

The Hojo sword Kata is used as a practical method at Daiyuzenji to give one a deeper meaning in life and to cut off all of the habits you have acquired from the day you were born and ultimately to help in the realization of the “true self” through these methods…

1. Correct breathing

2. Correct Posture

3. Correct frame of mind

HOJO SEMINAR 
Saturday, July 29,
10 am - 5 pm
Suggested donation: $40

HOJO-KAI RETREAT
Saturday - Sunday, August 26 - 27
10 am - 10 am
Suggested donation: $75

You must RSVP to daiyuzenji@gmail.com to secure a spot.