Social Engagement and Practicing in the World
The Buddha’s primary concern was the liberation from suffering. Consequently, all programs at Brooklyn Zen Center are developed with this as the ultimate aim. Though our efforts are fundamentally focused on the self-addicted mental habits that ultimately cause human suffering, the intention in the area of social engagement is to address this suffering as it manifests as broader social concerns.
Our hearts and minds can only fully awaken together with others. Centered in this truth, we hope...
The Awake Youth Project is an expression of BZC’s broader commitment to social engagement and taking the practice of meditation and mindfulness to populations that might not normally have access to them. More specifically, the Initiative focuses on introducing these tools for effectively engaging difficult emotions and life circumstances to youth through mindfulness in education programs in an effort to alleviate the suffering and harm they frequently experience. Currently the Awake Youth Project consists of four programs:
1. Ongoing mindfulness and...
If you would like to take part in Brooklyn Zen Center's outreach efforts, we invite you to meet with the outreach committee to explore your interests further. The outreach committee oversees all programming that corresponds with Brooklyn Zen Center's vision to address broader social concerns and offer the practice to those who might never enter a zendo. Though we can never take on all of the following areas, the committee is broadly concerned with cultivating the following in accordance with our overall vision:
- A space for other religious, professional, and...
Mindfulness and Meditation Training Programs in Brooklyn High Schools
The Mindfulness and Meditation Training program is a community-based collaboration with the Brooklyn College Community Partnership’s Project Peace. Together we work with at-risk high school students from underserved communities throughout Brooklyn. The program teaches students – many of whom are struggling with shame, stress, anger and violence – to follow the thoughts and emotions that lead them away from their essentially equanimous minds. By seeing their thinking clearly and learning...
Mindfulness of Stress Training Program in Brooklyn Colleges
The Mindfulness of Stress training program is in collaboration with New York University Polytechnic Institute’s Trio Program. TRIO is a federally-funded program designed to create educational opportunity for disadvantaged students who are either low-income, first generation college, or have a documented disability, so that they can complete their post secondary education. The Mindfulness of Stress training addresses the next stage of education, supporting students in identifying the early...
Weekly Teen Meditation at Brooklyn Zen Center
Our workshops in the schools resulted in students encouraging us to create times during which they could meet together weekly to sit in meditation and discuss mindfulness practices. We have designated Tuesday afternoons as student time at Brooklyn Zen Center.
From 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm on Tuesdays, Brooklyn Zen Center hosts a regular meditation group for teens. The group is led by teen mindfulness leaders who have been trained in our mindfulness leadership program. The group is teen-led...
