Statement from the Boards of Rinzai-ji and Mount Baldy Zen Centers 

Saturday, October 10 & Sunday, October 11, 2015 The Heart Sūtra is the best known and most essential of the Prajñāpāramitā  (Perfection of Wisdom) sūtras, works that were created in India over several centuries starting in the first century B.C.E . The foundational texts of the Mahayana Buddhist movement, these sūtras contain the core teaching of the emptiness of all aspects

Rinzai-ji Zen Center warmly invites you to join us for the following upcoming event, Nonviolent Communication Workshop with Bill Stierle next Thursday | 5-7pm. Please see the info below for details. E-mail or call us to register and also let us know if you’re planning to stay at the zen center. We deeply appreciate your generous donation on

FIRST YEAR MEMORIAL SERVICE   On July 26 Rinzai-ji held a First Year Memorial Service (Isshūki) for Kyōzan Jōshu Rōshi attended by 70 people. Noritake Rōshi led the service as Dōshi. A memorial poem sent by Jakusho Kwong Rōshi from Sonoma Mountain Zen Center was read. The service was followed by a touching short film

HO-ON SESSHIN   On July 20-25, 35 participants attended the Memorial Sesshin at the Mount Baldy Zen Center. We were truly fortunate to have guest Rōshis & Oshōs join us from Japan for these five days in honor of Kyozan Joshu Rōshi. The retreat was led by Noritake Shunan Rōshi of Reiun-in in Kyoto and

Oscar Moreno passed away on July 14, 2015. Oscar was a one of the most devoted Zen practioners imaginable, attending nearly all of the Sesshins at the Mt. Baldy Zen Center for the last few decades. Oscar always brought us warmth and laughter. Words cannot express how deeply he will be missed.   Rinzai-ji hosted

On Sunday, April 5th, at 11am, we held our Hanamatsuri Ceremony. The ceremony was followed by a delicious lasagna lunch prepared by Marilyn Gladle and Susan Crozier for your kind offer to prepare lunch. Thank you!  

On March 31st – April 4th we held our five-day Hanamatsuri retreat (Buddha’s birthday). We had some fine folks joining us for these five days of practice including Seido Clark, Joyce Gadiot, Myoren Yasukawa, Gento Krieger, Genshin Anderson, Shinkai Navarre, Craig Paup, Jodo Candy, Lisa Hubler as full-time and Maggie Keen, Susan Crosier Julianna Raye,