Zen Life & Meditation Center of Chicago

06/16/2026

Join us on Sunday, June 21st, for “Creating Creation” — a talk by Christian Baizan Solorzano and Barry Deck.

Schedule
9:00 AM — Meditation
10:00–11:00 AM — Talk

Christian Baizan Solorzano is certified by ZLMC as a Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher. A designer, educator, and community builder based in Oak Park, he teaches graphic design at DePaul University and founded the Chicago Graphic Design Club in 2020. He is the host of the Underscore podcast, co-publisher of Faculty, an annual design journal, and founder of OP/AL — Original Practice / Applied Learning. He received Jukai at ZLMC in 2020 and continues to study and practice here.

Barry Deck is a designer, artist, typeface designer, and meditator whose work spans brands as large as Coca-Cola and the Super Bowl and as small as they come. He has lectured and taught internationally and his work is held in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum.

06/15/2026

Quote by Roshi Robert Althouse

06/12/2026

Curious about Zen, or looking for a spiritual community to support your meditation practice? Drop in to tour the center, enjoy snacks and conversation, and try a simple meditation–no experience needed. All are welcome.

06/10/2026

Join us live on Substack right now for a conversation with our Abbot, Joshin Robert Althouse and student, Baizan.

Zen Life & Meditation Center on Substack

06/10/2026

Join us this Sunday, June 14th, for “Have No Preferences” — a Dharma Talk by Rev. Diane Myogetsu Bejcek.

Schedule
9:00 AM — Meditation
10:00–11:00 AM — Dharma Talk

Myogetsu is certified by ZLMC as a “Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher”.

Rev. Diane Myogetsu Bejcek is a fully empowered Zen Priest, and a Shuso (Senior Student). She completed a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology and has recently retired.

She began formal Buddhist study and practice many decades ago within a Tibetan Buddhist lineage, practicing for about 20 years in that tradition, and even ordained as a Buddhist nun. She later took up Zen training at ZLMC and eventually ordained here as a Zen Priest. She received Denkai, full empowerment as a Zen Priest from Joshin Roshi on Sept. 7, 2024.

06/07/2026

Our Abbot, Roshi Robert Joshin Althouse, reflects on Quetzalcoatl, the plumed serpent, morning star, artisan-god, and spiritual warrior, and the threshold moments that call for transformation, renewal, and return.

https://open.substack.com/pub/muddywaters/p/bird-serpent-morning-star

muddywaters.substack.com

06/05/2026

Join us for a live stream event on our Muddy Waters Substack on Wednesday, June 10 at 6 PM.

Christian Baizan Solorzano will have a conversation with Roshi and everyone is invited to join the conversation live.

You can find our Substack site at muddywaters.substack.com

06/03/2026

Join us this Sunday, June 7, for “Nothing is Wrong: Life is Beautiful” — a Dharma Talk by Jackie Popp.

Schedule
9:00 AM — Meditation
10:00–11:00 AM — Dharma Talk

Jackie is certified by ZLMC as a “Mindfulness and Meditation Teacher”.

Jacquelynn (Jackie) Popp earned her PhD in learning sciences from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2016. She is an Associate Professor of Education at Lake Forest College where she teaches preservice teachers who are earning their initial licensure. Jackie’s research focuses on disciplinary literacies, teacher collaborative reflection, critical pedagogy, and teaching of social justice.

Jackie joined ZLMC in May 2023. She has completed her precept study with Rev. Diane Myogetsu Bejcek and will receive Jukai in January 2026. She and Mark Gelula have started the Social Action Circle. Jackie hopes to blend her love of teaching and learning to her passion for meditation and Buddhism.

05/31/2026

Quote by Roshi Robert Althouse

05/30/2026