Walking to the Zendo at Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center
A message and an appeal from President Zack Becker and Abbot Gaelyn Godwin
Dear friends and members,
The heat of summer has started to ease, and the days are growing a little shorter. In every season your Zen Center remains a steady presence and refuge. The upcoming classes and retreats in November, December, and January are already filling up, welcoming long-time members, new members, and first-time visitors to the Center.
Thank you for your generous help in Maintaining the Refuge that Houston Zen Center has become for the world. As we prepare for a New Year, we request your help in the effort to continue to grow and widen the offerings for Zen practice in our world. We have two special requests.
1. Upgrade our video capabilities in the Zendo. Our classes and dharma talks reach a wide audience. We would like to make the experience less cluttered inside the Zendo by installing a video camera that will not block the view of the dharma speaker. We also plan to use a more seamless microphone. The cost is modest: $3,000
2. Close the Gap: We have a more urgent request this year that has arisen from our many programs in Houston, as well as our efforts to care for the prairie and grove on the land at Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center in Chappell Hill. As we will describe in the General Meeting in December, we have not yet achieved break-even budgeting on the land, although we are close to that achievement. Thus, because of our many programs over the past year, along with our work to restore the prairie and prepare for our next phase, we are facing a budget shortfall this year of $35,000.
Creekside restoration September 2025 - President Zack in the lead
With your help we can close this gap and begin the New Year with freshness and creativity.
With so many accomplishments during 2025, we will just select a few to illustrate:
Prairie restoration, and creekside erosion control - all by members of HZC.
On-going sewing classes, by Rev. Vicki Glenn, for members receiving the Bodhisattva Precepts.
On-going study classes, well attended by members and new friends.
Please let us know if you have any questions about the projects, or the gap.
Sustained by your on-going generosity, Houston Zen Center will continue to thrive and benefit countless beings.
With gratitude,
President Zack Becker and Abbot Gaelyn Godwin
Sunrise at Auspicious Cloud Zen Retreat Center October 2, 2025
Rev. Vicki Glenn’s on-going instructions in sewing the rakes to receive with the Bodhisattva Precepts.
With grateful bows,
Abbot Gaelyn & President Zack
Prairie Restoration begins with Phase One.
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.
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 Cloud Zen Retreat Center
