Windhorse Zen Community

Home
United States
Alexander, NC
Windhorse Zen Community

A Zen Community outside of Asheville, North Carolina in the Kapleau lineage. Offering practice in person & online. Email [email protected] for more.

05/24/2026

Some photos from last Sunday's Bodhi Day—our celebrations of Buddha's birthday: 1) most of the group joined for a photo after the rituals, 2) Sunya-roshi gets us started by bathing our baby Buddha figure with tea, 3) Lyle makes his offering. (Photos by Sachter Photography)

05/23/2026

Given that this weekend is Memorial Day and some people will be traveling— and because we've had a number of recent big events here over the last few weeks and are gearing up for the June sesshin—we've decided we can all use a break.

So there will be no program this Sunday, May 24.

Hope everyone stays dry and safe! We'll see you Tuesday night!

05/21/2026

⛈️⛈️⛈️

After weeks of drought in these mountains, we're so grateful for the lightning, thunder and days of rain in the forecast!

However, this means we are cancelling our Sangha Work Day this Saturday.

And yet—We have many plants that need to go in the ground as soon as possible.

So, if you can spare ANY time before the June Sesshin to help with this gardening project, please reach out to Andy.

We'll figure out a time that works for everyone—plus we'll feed you lunch!

05/20/2026

Weather permitting, we'll be planting in the gardens during our next Sangha Work Day, this Saturday May 23 from 9:30-1 PM. Bring gloves if you have them. We'll provide the rest—including lunch. Just reach out to [email protected] if you can make it!

05/17/2026

We're celebrating Buddha's birthday today! Join the festivities in person or online at 9:30 AM (EST). Here's the baby Buddha in the morning light at our special Bodhi Day outdoor altar under a canopy of trees. Reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

05/16/2026

It's a flurry of preparation here at Panther Branch as we get ready to celebrate Buddha's birthday tomorrow! We're so grateful for our Sangha volunteers who joined us in cleaning, sweeping, chopping and festooning the Center—both indoor and out! Join us for the ceremonies, noisemaking, processions in nature, storytelling, and more(!) tomorrow morning at 9:30 AM. Just reach out to [email protected] if you have any questions.

05/15/2026

Our Kannon Day altar with a quote Sunya-roshi used in her teisho from Zen Master Hakuin. Altar photo by Sachter Photography.

05/14/2026

BIG NEWS FROM PANTHER BRANCH: Thanks to the generous support of members and friends of the sangha, Windhorse is finally getting a kitchen facelift! One big task before the new cabinet doors are installed on Friday is moving all of our masking tape labels, accumulated over some years and loosely alphabetized, from the inside of the upper cabinets in the tea area of the kitchen to the inside of the new doors! Take a look—see any favorite teas or food?

05/13/2026

Join us this Sunday for Buddha's birthday celebration! Children are most welcome! With chants, flowers, storytelling, outdoor processions and circumambulations, we'll mark Bodhi Day. Feel free to wear festive clothing, if you have any, and you're welcome to wear it in the zendo during the sitting. Also bring instruments/noisemakers for helping with circumambulation and for making music. We'll end the morning with a big Windhorse potluck. If you'd like more information, just reach out to [email protected]

05/10/2026

Finished up our five-day Zentensive sesshin on Friday afternoon. It was a fine week of strong practice and a deep exploration of the psycho-dynamics of Zen practice. Participants came from closer to home in WNC but also farther afield from Virginia, DC, Vermont and Australia. Our next 7-Day sesshin is June 6-13. The registration is still open and the link is in our weekly updates. Just reach out to [email protected] for more information.

05/09/2026

Our five-day Zentensive sesshin ended yesterday (the post-sesshin photo will be coming along soon!), but we're preparing to celebrate and honor Kannon, the Bodhisattva of Compassion, tomorrow at 9:30 AM (EST). We'll sit zazen, have a special teisho from Sunya-roshi, and end with chants, circumambulations and offerings. If you'd like to come in person for the first time or for the zoom link, just reach out to [email protected]

Address

580 Panther Branch Road
Alexander, NC
28701

Telephone

+18286458001

Website

http://www.windhorsezen.org/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Windhorse Zen Community posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Place Of Worship

Send a message to Windhorse Zen Community:

Shortcuts

Address
Telephone
Alerts
Contact The Place Of Worship
Claim ownership or report listing

Want your place of worship to be the top-listed Place Of Worship in Alexander?