Dai Bosatsu Zendo

Dai Bosatsu Zendo

The Dai Bosatsu Zendo is a Rinzai Zen Buddhist monastery. It is built in a traditional Japanese architectural style and is located on the shore of a lake, deep within 1,400 pristine acres of forest in the Catskill Mountains.

The practice of Rinzai Zen began in China and was first established in Japan in the 11th century. It develops the intuitive, nonthinking mind through zazen (sitting meditation), samu (working meditation), and koans—paradoxical questions practioners employ, with the help of their senior teacher (known as a Roshi), to break through barriers that block insight.

Dai Bosatsu Zendo offers several opportunities for beginners to explore this practice, including samu weekends, which emphasize mindful work and include short meditation periods, and Intro to Zen Weekends, which offer a more in-depth introduction to Zen practice. Intensive week-long silent retreats and longer residency programs are also available for more experienced practitioners. Find out more about the Dai Bosatsu Zendo’s events.