Dear friends and members,

Thank you for your support of your Zen Center. 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, creates a Land of Liberty and Refuge, in Houston and far beyond.

We are reaching out to you now to express our appreciation, and to tell you more about how the Center and Land serve as important practice and refuge locations for so many people. We invite you to participate even more in this on-going important endeavor.

We are pleased and inspired to tell you that we have received a generous matching grant donation of $10,000 for needed renovation at ACRC. Your donations will be matched by a generous member. As of July 23rd we have reached the goal! Please consider donating soon so we can close this mid-year appeal.

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 become financially sustainable within the year. What we ask is for your help with important renovations.
New path lighting: $6,000
Upgraded irrigation for the bamboo groves: $3,000
Planning for accessible pathways between buildings: $10,000 and upward.

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.

As the crowds grow at our Center, we need to remove a partial wall in order to allow a feeling of spaciousness, and reduce the feeling of being crowded together at our popular Sunday gathering.

Wall removal and renovation: $32,000.

Did you know that our budget has been strained by the renovation costs for ACRC? Please consider donating to help with the renovation to restore the beautiful land to sustainability and accessibility.

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.

With palms together in gratitude,

Abbot Gaelyn Godwin & President Royce Johnson

More images of Houston Zen Center and Auspicious Cloud Retreat Center