San Antonio Zen Center

01/07/2026

The SAZC Annual Meeting will be the program on Saturday, January 31. We will have a potluck as well as hear how 2025 went for our beloved practice center.

The Board will present information on programming, policies, outreach efforts and ideas, and financials. Your participation is warmly encouraged!

12/27/2025

You’re invited to our New Year's Celebration, the evening of Wednesday, December 31, 2025.

We will gather at 7:00 pm to enjoy a potluck, a warm fire, a New Year's ceremony with intention-setting, and the releasing of name cards for all who have passed this year. You can RSVP to [email protected] with an idea of the dish you will bring and how many will come with you. If you decide last minute - come anyway!

12/26/2025

The garden is expanding! Kruba Chris will lead us in re-establishing beautiful perennial landscapes tomorrow, Saturday, December 27, from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm.

Come early and enjoy coffee and treats and happy post-holiday sangha activity. Let us know if you might like to participate - even an hour can help!

12/25/2025

As the year draws to a close, we find ourselves in a season of both deep stillness and vibrant light. 🕯️

In the busyness of the holidays, we often look for the perfect gift. In our practice, we remember that the most profound gift we can offer—to ourselves and to the world—is our own presence. When we sit in stillness, we cultivate a peace that extends far beyond the walls of the Zendo.

May this season be a time for you to breathe deeply, to cherish the warmth of community, and to find the "unshakable" amidst the changing tides of life. Whether you are celebrating with family or sitting in quiet reflection, know that you are a vital part of our sangha.

Wishing you a season of clarity, compassion, and peace.

Warm bows,

05/02/2025

Ordinary Mind is the Way and other Zen news - https://mailchi.mp/2649993417bf/ordinary-mind-is-the-way-and-other-zen-news

04/03/2025

KOAN SALON
Tuesdays from 6:45 pm to 8:00 pm, beginning April 15 - June 3; Led by Karen DeCotis

A six-week study of great Zen classics, the enlightenment stories, and how they relate to our practice. Koans can be offered in multiple ways. They can be healing stories, conversations, poems, or fragments of song. Technically, koan is a Japanese term that refers to a legal public case. In Zen, koans are designed to give us pause, to enter deeply our own “case”, revealing how we look at the world. We will sit with a case, write, reflect, converse, dream, and enter the world of our ancestors near and far. No experience is necessary and all are welcome. Drop-ins are okay too!

04/03/2025

Hello Bodhisattvas,
Here are the scheduling notes for April!

⌾ Saturday, April 5 ⌾
• SAZC will be CLOSED

⌾ Saturday, April 12, 9:30 am - 11:30 am ⌾
Buddha's Birthday Celebration
• Learn the stories of the Shakyamuni's birth, decorate our new flower arbor (thank you to Mike Morey), bathe the Baby Buddha, and enjoy birthday cake and treats. We welcome you to bring one or more bunches of flowers (those with sturdy stems work best) to decorate our arbor at 9:30 am. If you would like to contribute some treats, let Karen know. This is a great event for children. See you there.

⌾ Saturday, April 12, 1:30 pm - 4:30 pm ⌾
Half-Day Sitting with the SAZC Recovery Group
• A meditation retreat facilitated by one of SAZC's lay-entrusted teachers with periods of sitting, walking, a talk, and time for reflection. We welcome folks in recovery, interested in support with a recovery group or for those who attend our Friday night recovery group. See Kruba Chris or email to register: [email protected]

⌾ Saturday, April 19, 9:30 am - 11 am ⌾
Spring Cleaning!
• Join us to spiff up our center, the yard and all the nooks and crannies. A wonderful sangha-building activity followed by a light lunch.

⌾ Dharma Talks This Month ⌾
• April 12 - Karen Decotis - Stories of Buddha's Birth
• April 19 - Work Morning - No Dharma Talk
• April 26 - Chosan - Tea + Dharma conversation

04/03/2025

EDIT TO THIS POST!!!
-----
Hello Friends,

A Reminder that SAZC will be CLOSED this Saturday, April 5th.

Reverend Karen and Kruba Chris have been invited to present our SAZC practice as part of the events including many Buddhist groups from San Antonio and around the world!

Supporting our Buddhist friends; enjoying new Dharma activities, and sharing food and drink. We hope you'll come!

EDIT: SAZC will not be presenting at Lien Hoa in the morning (and are scheduled at 2 pm), so there will no longer be an early gathering or morning carpooling efforts; however, you are still able to join if you wish!

03/16/2025

San Antonio Zen Center invites you to join our Zen and the 12 Steps: Recovery Retreat!

This afternoon retreat is for anyone looking to explore the connection between recovery and Zen practice. It will include a meditation instruction, periods of sitting and walking meditation, and a Dharma talk, followed by a Q&A. No formal knowledge of Zen meditation is required, just a desire to expand and deepen your recovery journey. All individuals in recovery are welcome!

Please sign up by emailing [email protected] or calling us at 210-257-8383.

02/02/2025

Some photos from our Sangha Work Day!
It feels great to join together and take care of our temple, but there are many ways to help out at SAZC!

Currently, we need:
⚙︎ Kitchen Keeper ⚙︎
We are still seeking someone who would like to take on the mantle and tasks of looking after our SAZC community kitchen. Most tasks could be handled in one hour/week, including- shopping for supplies, cleaning surfaces, and helping with moving dishes and composting.

⚙︎ Donation of flowers ⚙︎
Bringing one or two bouquets on a Saturday for our flower person to arrange and offer at our altars.

⚙︎ Woodworking ⚙︎
Buddha's Birthday is in April and we may like to offer the annual Buddha's birthday ceremony. It includes a flower arbor, covered in chicken wire- maybe 3 ft. tall by 2 ft. wide. Thank you for considering, all materials would be provided.

If you have any interest in helping out, please reach out to [email protected] mailto:[email protected]

02/01/2025

Happy February Bodhisattvas,

Here's the calendar snapshot for the next month:
⌾ Saturday, February 1st ⌾
• Sangha Work Day from 9:45 am to 12 pm
• Beginner's Meditation Instruction from 12 pm to 2 pm.

⌾ Saturday, February 15th ⌾
• Buddha's Parinirvana Ceremony at 9:25 am
We will honor Shakyamuni's great teaching and his passing in this special ceremony with offerings, chanting, and treats!
• SAZC Board of Directors Meeting at 12:30 pm

⌾ Saturday, March 1st ⌾
• Chosan from 10:15 am - 11:15 am
• Beginner's Meditation Instruction from 12 pm to 2 pm.

⌾ ONGOING EVENTS ⌾
• Study Group: The Five Hindrances and the Five Powers
→ Every Tuesday from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm

Visit sanantoniozen.org or email [email protected] for any questions or for more information about any of our offerings.

San Antonio Zen Center

01/31/2025

Happy Year of the Wood Snake!

May our fresh start bring peace and fearlessness to all beings amidst all the changes coming our way. It is a wonderful time to bond with Sangha for support and perspective. We are here with our regular schedule and special events - see all below. Thank you to all who came to our Annual meeting and potluck. SAZC enjoys our many sincere practitioners who bring forth so much appreciation and gratitude.