Open Source Zen

Zen Communities

In their words:

“The house style honors the original Chinese koan way while emphasizing the integration of koan inquiry with contemporary lives, explores communal as well as individual koan practice and its relationship to creativity, highlights the contributions of women to the koan tradition, seeks to develop a body of Western koans, and in general is interested in what happens when you trust the koans themselves and the experiences of the people working with them to reveal the way the tradition should evolve.”

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Zen practice in the Open Source tradition centers on meditation, koan practice, and community. We are a group of lay practitioners, and we take up our Way in the midst of work, family life, and all the complications of being human in this time… We value diversity in our sangha and strive to be inclusive and equitable. All people are welcome at the Open Source.”

What We Did & Why

We are members of Pacific Zen Institute with friends throughout the wider network. From afar, through her books and teachings, Joan Sutherland has had an extraordinary influence on us, deeply affecting our love and understanding of the practice and history of the originating traditions of Zen Buddhism. We were very excited that Joan was about to launch a new book. And then, it came to our attention that Open Source Zen needed a website. It was our great honor that our offer to create a site for them out of our appreciation was accepted. It meant the world to us to participate inside the community in this way. A work of love and tremendous respect.