Class

Big Mind and Words: When Writing Becomes Play and Discovery

February 28, 2026

2:00 PM - 5:00 PM

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

In this three-hour session we will immerse ourselves in a writing practice that resides in the big mind, under the big roof of language that includes storytelling, remembering, truth-telling with and beyond words.

We’ll do exercises that are intended to shake loose memories, ideas and opinions, walls that we’ve been boxed in (or boxed ourselves in). In other words, to meet ourselves and one another on the page. We will do this with an attitude of play and discovery. We’ll write together, read aloud (feel free to pass!), and listen to each other. We’ll do some oral writing (feel free to pass!). We may visit some haikus, poems, passages, and maybe come up with our own three lines or a collective poem and/or story… All of this while we call on the great spirit of spontaneity.

No prior writing experience required! We will all enter as beginners. Please bring your notebooks, pens, and an open mind.

Registration
Registration deadline — February 26, 11:59 PM ET
Financial assistance deadline — February 19, 11:59 PM ET

Fee (sliding scale) — $75–$120

  • See our Equitable Pricing Model here to determine your rate.
  • No one will be turned away due to financial constraints. If you’re unable to pay at the lowest rate, please use this form to apply for financial assistance by the deadline.

Questions? If you have any questions or concerns about registration, please contact us at info@brooklynzen.org.

Instructors

Dorotea Mendoza is a writer, community organizer, and Zen practitioner. Though she mostly writes fiction, and loves the flash form, she has also written essays on Socially Engaged Buddhism. She has worked with women’s organizations in the US and in the Philippines around issues such as militarism, sex trafficking, domestic and gender-based violence. Her co-authored play Export Quality: Monologues Drawn from True Stories of Mail-Order Brides from the Philippines, inspired by what she and her co-authors bore witness to, premiered in NYC in 2023. She currently organizes with Black Breath Sits, the Buddhist Action Coalition, Sari-Sari Women of Color Arts Coup, and a loose group of NYC-based Buddhists devoted to embodying their bodhisattva vows in the streets. Among other spaces, she has taught writing practice at Upaya Zen Center (Inside Out: Sitting, Writing, and Being Fully in this World, 2022; The Way of Haiku, 2023) and with Natalie Goldberg in various sit-walk-write retreats and workshops since 2010. She is beyond thrilled to share what she’s learned about big mind and writing and relationality. Dorotea was born in the Philippines and grew up in New York City. She now lives in Brooklyn with her partner Matthew and 53 house plants. You can find her at www.doroteamendoza.com.

 

Charlie Schneider is a writer, teacher, and Zen practitioner. He mostly writes fiction, though sometimes poetry appears, too. His fiction has been published in Electric Literature, Meridian, Joyland, New Ohio Review, and elsewhere. He has taught writing in multiple institutions, and currently teaches at the The School of Visual Arts, where he is helping to organize a faculty union. In fall 2024, he supported Ryan Lee Wong in co-leading Brooklyn Zen Center’s Writing to Study the Self program, a six-week offering of contemplative writing practices and guest lectures from contemporary Buddhist writers. He lives with his partner Antonia in Brooklyn, with Marlo the cat.

 

 


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
$75–$120
Questions?
info@brooklynzen.org

To request a refund for this program you must notify BZC in writing at least two days before the beginning of the program. You may request a full refund by emailing info@brooklynzen.org. This policy supports the organizing effort involved in managing registrations and cancellations and the largely volunteer-based structure of the Brooklyn Zen Center.

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.
Big Mind and Words: When Writing Becomes Play and Discovery
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