Registration is now open for this important gathering of American Zen Teachers from all over North America.
For Zen Teachers who are members of the AZTA, please contact Stephen for the link to the registration form.
We seek volunteers from Houston Zen Center to help prepare the retreat rooms, and shuttle some of the visiting Zen Teachers from the airport to the Land.
Please rsvp to Stephen if you think you can help with meeting our guests at the airports, or with cooking during the retreat.
The 2025 meeting begins Wednesday, October 1 with dinner followed immediately by a meeting. The annual meeting concludes with breakfast on Sunday, October 5. The gathering will take place at HZC’s rural retreat center, known as Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center, about 1 hour west of Houston (landscape photo and zendo/meditation photo included).
HZC hosted our annual meeting twice, most recently in 2018, and the sangha is really looking forward to welcoming the illustrious members of AZTA again.
This conference aims to unite Soto Zen Buddhist communities from Hawaii, the mainland USA, and Canada to deepen our understanding of Soto Zen practice. Originally, these conferences helped maintain relationships between Nisei members of Soto temples in Hawaii and the West Coast. This year's event seeks to expand its reach to all Soto Zen practitioners in North America.
Participants will attend a variety of classes and activities and have the opportunity to network with one another. The conference will offer nearly 30 sessions, allowing attendees to register for up to eight, catering to diverse interests such as lectures, activities, and meditation.
The COVID-19 pandemic made maintaining relationships difficult, and while Zoom helped, the chance to meet in person is invaluable. Unlike previous conferences where participants stayed together from beginning to end, this year’s event aims to be more accessible and appealing to a broader audience. We are committed to ensuring that your experience at the conference, whether you travel from across the country or from Honolulu, will be fulfilling and memorable. Join us for a diverse range of topics and themes, ensuring there is something for everyone! Read more here about the Soto Zen Conference.
WHO’S INVITED?
The 10th U.S. Soto Conference is open to all members and supporters of the many Soto Zen Buddhism Temples and Zen Centers across the U.S. and Canada. We are excited to also welcome guests from Japan, Europe, and South America!
The 10th Soto Zen Conference website has a great deal of helpful information. Feel free to contact Stephen if you have questions.
Rochester Zen Center meeting
Daibosatsu
The path at Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center.