January 17th - February 8th, 2026

At times, Zen practice overlooks compassion. In both Theravada and Vajrayana, compassion has devoted practices that use the focused attention to develop a more deeply open heart. These practices serve to support a relational practice. With this in mind, our Winter Practice Period will look at the work of Lama John Makransky, a Buddhist scholar who teaches at Boston University. His published text, Awakening Through Love, will for the basis for our four week dive into compassion and interpersonal meditation.

Weekly conversations will be with Ming Po Larry Matthews, Hosho Don Koehler, Nanda Nina Lynch and Jozen Jonathon Fielder. Ekai Roshi and Emyo Darlene Tataryn offering half day retreat, and Ekai Roshi will be leading the weekly Friday Seminar. We welcome these leaders as they share their insight into the dharma teachings of Jun Po Roshi.

The four-week practice period includes:

• Four weekly dharma talks by senior clergy

• A four-week seminar

• Open practice periods offered each week.

• Two retreats:

  • Zazenkai - Establishing Compassion the Basis for

    Meditation

  • Zazenkai - Deity Practice - Tracing the Roots of

    Compassion

• Access to all talks through our online portal

• Online forums supporting the community

Weekly Dharma Reflections

Saturdays 10:00 am - 12:00 noon ET (New York)

• January 17th – Receiving Love: The Key to the Spiritual Path   - Ming Po Larry Matthews

• January 24th – Letting Be: Relaxing into Natural Wonder - Hosho Don Koehler

• January 31st – Letting It Out: Extending the Love that We Receive – Nanda Nina Lynch

• February 7th – Morning Practice – Compassion as a Liberating Power – Bring Difficulties into Compassion – Jozen Jonathon Fielder

  Seminar

  Establishing a Daily Compassion Practice

  Fridays 12 noon - 1:00 pm ET (New York)

• January 17th - Setting Up a Compassion Practice

• January 23rd - Compassion in Daily Living

• January 30th - Working with Challenging Persons

• February 6th - How does this all work with Zen?

  Retreats

• Saturday, January 24th - 10:00am - 2:00pm (ET) - Zazenkai: Establishing Compassion as the Basis for Meditation with Ekai Joel Kreisberg Roshi - Online*

• Sunday, February 7th - 10:00am - 2:00pm (ET) - Zazenkai: Deity Practice - Tracing the Roots of Compassion with Emyo Darlene Tataryn - Online*

  Weekly Practice Periods

• Monday - 8:00 pm - 9:00 pm (ET) - S

• Tuesday - 2:00 am - 2:40 am (ET) - Hon Shin Zen Sanctuary - Nanda Nina Lynch

• Tuesday - 7:30 pm - 9:00 pm (ET) - Shining Bright Lotus - Ekai Joel Kreisberg

• Wednesday - 1:00 pm - 2:15 pm (ET) - Iron Mountain Zendo - Jozen Jonathon Fielder

• Friday - 2:00 am - 2:40 am (ET) - Hon Shin Zen Sanctuary - Nanda Nina Lynch

• Sunday - 10:00 am - 11:15 am (ET) - One Wisdom Zen - Emyo Darlene Tataryn

  Events are free

  * Retreats and seminar require additional enrollment fees