Zazen (Meditation)

Saturday Morning Program with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler

September 13, 2025

9:00 AM - 12:40 PM

Location
Boundless Mind Temple
326 Clinton Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
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Description

Join us for our in-person Saturday morning program at Boundless Mind Temple in Brooklyn, which will include zazen (seated meditation), kinhin (walking meditation), service, and a dharma talk by guest teacher,  Jiryu Rutschman-Byler at 11:20 AM ET. This vist by the co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center is in connection to a launch of the long-awaited book from one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the last century, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, on Wednesday September 10.

The dharma talk will also be live-streamed. For security reasons, we do not post zoom links publicly. Please sign up to “This Week at BZC” to receive the log in information.

You are welcome to come to all or just part of the program schedule:

09:00 AM — Doors open
09:25 AM — Han (wooden board calling people to meditation)
09:40 AM — Zazen (seated meditation)
10:10 AM— Kinhin (walking meditation)
10:20 AM — Zazen
10:50 AM — Service (ceremonial chanting, bowing and incense offering)
11:20 AM — Dharma talk with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler
12:20 PM — Soji (temple cleaning practice)
12:40 PM — Tea (informal tea time)

Instructor

Jiryu Rutschman-Byler is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, with dharma transmission from Sojun Mel Weitsman. Jiryu has trained residentially in Zen temples since 1996, and currently serves as a co-Abbot of San Francisco Zen Center through his role as Abiding Abbot of Green Gulch Farm Zen Center. Jiryu is the co-editor of a new collection of talks by Suzuki Roshi, Becoming Yourself, forthcoming in July 2025. He is also the author of the book Two Shores of Zen, about his experiences in 2002 to 2004 as an American-trained monk practicing in Japanese Zen monasteries, and his writing has appeared in Buddhist periodicals in print and online. Jiryu is a mentor and preceptor to the Montaña de Silencio Sangha in Medellín, Colombia, and for many years served as the head teacher of the Buddhadharma Sangha of San Quentin State Prison. He holds a master’s degree in Asian Studies from UC Berkeley (2014), where he worked under the mentorship of the Group in Buddhist Studies on Buddhist texts in classical Chinese and modern Japanese, and completed thesis research on the development of Soto Zen in Japan during the Meiji Period (1868-1912).


Location Details

Boundless Mind Temple is located in the Parish House of Christ Church Cobble Hill, next to 326 Clinton Street. Enter the driveway on Clinton, go past the scaffolding, and through the double doors. There are two flights of stairs leading to the center, located on the second floor. The closest subway stop is the F/G at Bergen Street.

 


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Donations

BZC relies on donations to sustain its spaces, teachers, and staff. Make a gift on our website, via PayPal through paypal@brooklynzen.org or Venmo. You can also support a dharma teacher or practice leader here. Or, consider becoming a Member to support us year-round!

 


COVID Protocol

We ask that all participants be fully vaccinated and boosted. Masks are optional. Please see the BZC Covid Protocol for more information.


 

Fee
Free
Questions?
info@brooklynzen.org
We are in an historical building which is not wheelchair accessible. There are two flights of stairs leading to the center, located on the second floor. Chairs, benches, and extra support cushions are available. If you have any additional questions about accessibility, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.
Saturday Morning Program with Jiryu Rutschman-Byler
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