Mission and Vision

Houston Zen Center Mission Statement

The purpose of Houston Zen Center is to express, make accessible, and embody the wisdom and compassion of the Buddha.

Houston Zen Center exists to provide an environment that supports spiritual practice based on the living tradition of Zen Buddhism, transmitted from Shakyamuni Buddha through Dogen Zenji, Keizan Zenji, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, and other exemplary Zen teachers.

Houston Zen Center’s central value is to express the non-duality of practice and awakening through the practice of Zen and the sixteen Bodhisattva precepts, acknowledging and valuing equally the expression of the practice in formal settings and in daily life, thus affirming both lay and monastic practice as expressions of the Bodhisattva way.

Vision and Guiding Principles

Houston Zen Center serves as a gathering place for Houston’s Soto Zen community, other Buddhist practitioners, and other members of the community interested in meditation. HZC offers zazen, classes, and retreats, as well as auxiliary programs, for newcomers and experienced practitioners alike. HZC is supported by a strong community of volunteers who serve as class instructors, resources for new members and visitors, and Board members.

The Abbot, teachers and leaders of the Center are trained in the Soto Zen tradition, in the lineage of Suzuki Shunryu Roshi, the founder of San Francisco Zen Center and author of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. The membership and participants are very diverse, coming from all faith traditions and joining the various activities at the Center in ways that work for their lives and schedules.

Strategic Plan

Guided by a Planning Committee of volunteers and staff, HZC undertook a strategic planning effort to identify its priorities for growth over the coming five years, as well as a strategy to support these goals. The planning process began in 2017 with a deep review of HZC’s current operations and finances. Based on the findings of the research, Houston Zen Center has developed a plan to strengthen its programmatic opportunities; to support these opportunities with improvements to HZC’s facilities and infrastructure; and to grow its base of contributed support to ensure stability and sustainability in the years to come.

Strategic Plan Goals

I.               Purposefully strengthen the mutually sustaining breadth and depth across the Center’s practice opportunities.  The Center seeks to maintain broad receptivity to occasional visitors and newcomers, as well as to provide advanced practice opportunities for long-time practitioners. To accomplish this, HZC will focus not only on its programmatic offerings but also the structures that support these programs and encourage participation.

II.              Adapt the Center’s campus to support its current and future operations. As the Center pursues this balance of depth and breadth, it will respond to the continued growth of the HZC community, addressing both short-term space needs that stem from the Center’s organic growth and long-term needs that support the vision of the Center.

III.            Enhance the Center’s operational infrastructure to match its programmatic goals. As HZC grows, the Center will bolster its capacity in order to support the spiritual life of the community and the functioning of the organization. To accomplish this, HZC will add staff to support the community’s leaders and practice, as well as to complement and augment volunteer responsibilities, reduce the administrative burden on the Abbot, and further the Center’s ability to connect to visitors and members.

IV.            Grow contributed support for the Center. HZC will build its financial capacity to achieve these goals through the enhancement and development of revenue streams, strengthening its membership and annual donation opportunities as well as launching a capital campaign to support the Center’s short-term facilities needs.

SUPPORT OF THE CENTER

All our meditation periods are open to everyone who is interested in meditation. Our Center is entirely supported by the donations of visitors and members, and by the class enrollment fees.

Members of HZC are those who formally pledge to support the Center on a monthly or annual basis. The Treasurer and Membership Secretary are very pleased to discuss our expenses and projects and have come up with recommendations for membership donations.

Visit the Membership Page for more information about joining or email the Membership Secretary if you have questions.

May all beings be happy and free of suffering.

ZEN CENTER ORGANIZATION

Houston Zen Center, or Sho Un Ji, Auspicious Cloud Zen Temple, is led by the Abbot, Setsuan Konjin Gaelyn Godwin. The assistant teachers are:

• Seirin Tim Schorre

• Shinji Mary Carol Edwards

• Jika Gayle Klaybor

GOVERNANCE

Further information about HZC's governance can be obtained from Zen Center's President, Royce Johnson, or the Secretary of the Board, Parmita Derden.

HZC is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization.

Board of Directors
More information about the Board and leadership.
OFFICERS
Royce Johnson President 
Zack Becker Vice president 
Parmita Derden Secretary 
Carter White Treasurer
Gaelyn Godwin Abbot

DIRECTORS
Andrew Chaney
Judson Dunn
Mary Carol Edwards
Clayton Garrett
Anna Mastantuono Gonzalez
Joy Tober

MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY
Judson Dunn

FINANCE COMMITTEE
Leo Golub, Chair
Parmita Derden
Gary Grubitz
Royce Johnson
Carter White

PRACTICE POSITIONS
Tanto Gayle Klaybor
Tanto Vicki Glenn
Ino Royce Johnson
Ino Tricia McFarlin

WORK LEADER
Zack Becker