Who we are
T he Zen Center on Main Street is a community of people that practice together in the Soto Zen Tradition. We nurture a sacred space in the middle of town as a reminder that our awakened, spiritual life is not separate from our ordinary daily activities. All are welcome to come and sit.
Beginnings
T he Zen Center on Main Street began organically with a few dedicated zen students gathering together to meditate on Wednesday evenings in Catherine's office. As a stroke of good fortune, the office suite next door became available, and after much demolition and renovation work the sangha moved in and began a regular schedule of sittings. "Zen On Main" is an affiliate group of the Village Zendo in New York City www.villagezendo.org Abbot and Teacher
R oshi Enkyo O'Hara, of the Village Zendo in New York City, is the Abbot of the Zen Center on Main Street. A Zen Priest and certified Zen Teacher in the Soto Tradition, Roshi studied with John Daido Loori Roshi of Zen Mountain Monastery and Taizan Maezumi Roshi of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. In 1997, she received Dharma Transmission from Roshi Bernie Tetsugen Glassman and in June 2004, the title 'Roshi'. Roshi Enkyo O'Hara holds a Ph.D. in Media Ecology and she taught Multimedia at New York University for over 20 years.
Resident Priest
C atherine Anraku Hondorp is the Head Priest of Zen on Main. Anraku is a Dharma Holder and an assistant Zen Teacher under the guidance of her teacher Roshi Enkyo O'Hara. At The Zen Center on Main Street, Anraku works with the sangha to provide a sacred space for Zen practice overlooking the main intersection in town. She is also the adjunct Buddhist Chaplain at Smith College and Buddhist Spiritual Advisor at Hampshire College.
Anraku began Zen studies in August of 1987 at Zen Mountain Monastery following an Introduction to Zen Weekend. At that time, she also met her future teacher Roshi Enkyo O'Hara and began sitting with a small group that met at her home New York City that would later become The Village Zendo. Anraku studied and received Jukai with Roshi Loori in 1990. In 1996 she asked Roshi Enkyo O'Hara to be her teacher. Roshi Enkyo's teaching that life and practice are not two, rang true for Anraku and in 2000 she received Tokudo and was ordained as a Zen priest. Anraku led the Village Zendo sangha as the Shuso (senior monk) during the summer intensive ango practice period of 2002. In 2007 she received Denkai and became a Full Priest.
Please visit us on our website www.zenonmain.org for more information and to find out about our schedule of events. The zendo is available for silent meditation anytime The Life Center is open.
Open Meditation Schedule, newcomers are welcome.
Tuesday mornings
6:30 AM to 7:30 AM
Sunday mornings
8:30 AM to 9:30 AM
Wednesday evenings
Zazen and Interview, 6 PM to 7:15 PM
Thursday evenings
6 PM to 7:15 PM, service from 6 to 6:15 PM
**The schedule consists of two 30 minute periods of Zazen with Walking Meditation or Stretching interspersed
The first week of each month is Beginners Mind Week, when special attention is given to welcoming those new to Zen practice. Please Join Us.
|
