Rochester Roots in Zen Buddhism

50 years ago, Zen roots were established right here, in Rochester, NY.  The Rochester Zen Center was established. It attracted practitioners from all areas of the country and in some cases the world.

I’ve had a few experiences at the Rochester Zen Center. The first time I arrived, it was closed. The only time of year that the center actually locked its doors to the outside world. I believe in signs but was not deterred for long. A year, at most.

On my second occasion I participated in an introductory weekend where I sat in silent meditation for countless hours while literally counting from 1 - 10 over and over again. Somehow that meditative exercise moved me to tears as an onslaught of former memories arose in my mind. Always going back to 1, 2, 3 and so on, sniffling throughout.

My third attempt took me to a traditional sitting. (Sitting is a term used for sitting in silent meditation or Zazen.)  Read More HERE on page 222 - OR below