Dear friends and members,

Thank you for your support of this precious Zen Center. Please consider helping your Zen Center restore the cooling equipment in the Western Zendo in the Houston Zen Center, as well as the cooling equipment in the Box House / Chappell Hill House at Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center.

Practicing meditation, sitting in zazen, is one of the most beneficial and meaningful activities we can offer this tumultuous world. Therefore, we seek to keep the meditation rooms as welcoming as possible so that everyone can experience the quiet, peaceful qualities of meditation.

Cooling the Meditation Hall. Cost $4,500: The mini-split unit in the Western Zendo was originally installed in 2012 when we heroically renovated the carriage house garage, all by ourselves, and turned it into a beautiful, serene zendo. The innovative mini-split has served us well, although it has provided very uneven cooling. We need to replace it now, as it fails, and we plan to replace the failing unit with a centrally located unit that will distribute cooling (or heating) more evenly around the zendo. The cost will be $4,500. 
Please see the gallery of photos below of the sangha building the Western Zendo in 2012.

Air Conditioning in the Box House / Chappell Hill House. Cost $2,400:
The window units that provide cooling in the Box House make life bearable for our retreatants. At this time we need to replace several of them. The cost will be: $2,400

Fence Section, blown by the hurricane, to be rebuilt with metal posts. Cost $5,700. Replace the fencing between the hojo (Abbot's quarters) and Yale Street. The fence was virtually blown over by the hurricane. We have propped it up until it was the right time to replace this portion. Now might be the right time! The cost is: $5,800.

The Box House, also known as the Chappell House, is cooled by window units, now in need of replacement.

And the fence, pictured below, needs one section totally replaced.

This Zen Center is a refuge for all. It is a place of peace, open for deep practice of meditation, Zazen, sangha/community connection, and interconnection. Studying Zen, freeing the mind, benefits this world in more ways than can be consciously known. Our efforts help everyone in Houston, and reach far beyond our local neighborhoods.

These are beautiful days. The teachings that are offered and demonstrated at your Zen Center are more important than ever in this complex world. Thank you so much for all you do, known and unknown, to care for Houston Zen Center. Please help us care for this place of peace.

Together we are caring for the Center, and for the teachings of awareness and peace in our world.

With warm bows,
Abbot Gaelyn Godwin & President Zack Becker

Did you know that thousands of people attend our classes and events in Houston at the Houston Zen Center urban campus? From our basic Introduction to Zen Series, to our advanced teachings on Karma, Zen Poetry, the Fundamental Teachings of the Middle Way; from our half-hour introduction, to our 7-day sessions, we provide a full range of entry points for seekers from all spiritual traditions.

Did you know that we have already opened the Auspicious Cloud Retreat Center to many groups? After each group leaves, they ask when they can come again.
Houston Zen sangha has held several long retreats on the land, supporting the practice of many members and friends. In addition, our bookings to compatible groups has grown steadily, and the Auspicious Cloud Retreat Center will is well on the way to financial stability.

Please accept our thanks for all your help, gifts of time and treasure, that support your Zen Center in its mission to provide a refuge for peace and spiritual growth. Your good wishes and aspirations for ensuring the well-being of the visitors to Zen Center, including the many beings living on the land, are powerful forces for beneficence in the world.

More images of Houston Zen Center and Auspicious Zen Cloud Retreat Center