Prairyerth Zen Center

Prairyerth Zen Center Providing Zen practice and instruction in Topeka, Kansas. The Prairyerth Zen Center began informally in 1996 in a small office in Topeka, Kansas. Thank you.

Two aspiring Zen students from the Kansas Zen Center in Lawrence decided to sit together a couple of mornings every week. A third person joined, and the practice was moved to the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka where, over time, the sangha grew and Prairyerth Zen Center became a reality. Prairyerth Zen Center of Topeka is an affliate of the Kwan Um School of Zen in Providence, Rhode Is

land. Our purpose is to further the practice of Zen meditation in accordance with the teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn, a Korean Zen master in the Choyge Order of Zen in Seoul South Korea. Kwan Um means "perceive world sound" or to perceive the sounds of the suffering of this world. To really perceive how much unhappiness and hardship there is, we develop the compassion to help in whatever way we can. Prairyerth Zen Center is a 501-C3 Religious Non-Profit Corporation and is funded by member dues, donations, and program fees. We have no paid personnel. Please consider making a donation so that our Zen Center can continue to be a compassionate presence in the Topeka community. Your donation may be tax deductible. Please consult your tax professional. Prairyerth Zen Center runs off of membership and donations. If you would like to make a tax deductable donation please send it Bill Lucero, treasurer @ 1176 SW. Warren, Topeka, Ks 66604.

05/27/2026

Prairyerth Zen Center Upcoming Events In Topeka, Kansas

June 7, 3:00 pm - 4:30
Consulting Interviews with Richard Brown, Senior Dharma Teacher, in private and during regular Sunday practice. Feel free to bring your questions about Zen.

June 12-14
– Yong Maeng Jong Jin - 2 day retreat led by Rebecca Otte, JDPSN. This event begins Friday evening at 6:30 pm with special chanting, reading of the Temple Rules and an encouragement talk. On Saturday, we'll begin practice at 7:30 am and continue throughout the day with rest periods. Meals are provided. Late entry times are 9:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Fee for the retreat is $35/day or $70 for the full retreat. Limited accommodations are available. If you need a place to stay please let us know. No one is ever turned away from our practice for an inability to pay. Scholarships are available. Please let us know if you need one. Please register at our website so we know how much food to purchase and whether to expect people on Zoom, etc.

Buddha's Bookclub and regular Sunday practice are canceled this week due to the weekend retreat.

- June 21, 3:00 pm - 4:30
Kong An interviews with Rebecca Otte, JDPSN will be held in private during regular Sunday practice.

SAVE THE DATES
July 28 - August 2 - Five-day retreat ("Gentle Prairyerth Zen" - Come and sit in meditation when you can. Leave when you must.)
August – no retreats this month
September 5 - One Day Retreat

prairyerthzen.org


Bowing To The Buddha WithinBy Richard Brown, Senior Dharma TeacherBowing is a bit of Asian tradition that is foreign to ...
05/26/2026

Bowing To The Buddha Within
By Richard Brown, Senior Dharma Teacher
Bowing is a bit of Asian tradition that is foreign to many beginning American Zen students. It is one of our practices that provokes a lot of questions. “Who are you bowing to? Why do you bow? Are you worshiping the Buddha? The short answer is that we bow to the Buddha within us all. Our Buddha nature.

A Zen master and his student were walking along the bank of a stream. The teacher spotted a scorpion struggling in the water in fear of drowning. He bent down to help the insect. But, as soon as he was close enough the scorpion stung him on his hand. He recoiled from the pain and stood up. As he bent down again toward the scorpion his student cried out, “Master, why bother that animal? It will only hurt you again!” The teacher replied, “It is the scorpion’s nature to sting. It is my nature to help. If I allowed its behavior to change my heart I would lose myself. Then who would be the one truly suffering? He placed a leaf next to the scorpion, it crawled onto it and he lifted it to safety.

According to the Buddha, we are all born enlightened, but we don’t recognize what we possess. It would be like a lion who was raised by sheep and so believes that it is also a sheep. This nature that the Buddha and the Zen master above spoke of is the ability to be fully present without drifting off into memories of the past, dreams of the future, expectations, opinions, and desires. Just open to the present moment. When we are this present we see there is no difference between our mind and the minds of all beings. This helps to create a strong sense of compassion for all. Zen Master Hae Kwang, referring to this true nature, once told me that “enlightenment only makes you more like who you already are.” Like your true self.

When we meditate thinking that we have to strive to change something fundamental about ourselves by becoming enlightened, every time our mind wanders or some feeling comes up we might feel a sense of failure. But, when we meditate from a place before thinking, knowing that our nature is already whole, we recognize that awareness which is already present. This takes work, practice and time. But, when we meditate with this awareness, each time we become lost in thought we realize that we are not fixing a mistake. We are simply teaching our mind to recognize our true inborn nature. This is what the Buddha meant when he said, “Each thing is complete. Each thing has it.”

Regardless of whether we bow to the Buddha when entering the dharma room, or when we perform 108 prostrations as a part of morning practice, we do so as a recognition of our own inherent Buddha nature and the Buddha nature of all. Each time we rededicate ourselves to our “big I”, rather than to our “small I”, so that we can help save all beings from suffering and help this world.



UPCOMING EVENTSJune 7, 3:00 pm - 4:30Consulting Interviews with Richard Brown, Senior Dharma Teacher, in private and dur...
05/21/2026

UPCOMING EVENTS
June 7, 3:00 pm - 4:30
Consulting Interviews with Richard Brown, Senior Dharma Teacher, in private and during regular Sunday practice. Feel free to bring your questions about Zen.

June 12-14
– Yong Maeng Jong Jin - 2 day retreat led by Rebecca Otte, JDPSN. This event begins Friday evening at 6:30 pm with special chanting, reading of the Temple Rules and an encouragement talk. On Saturday, we'll begin practice at 7:30 am and continue throughout the day with rest periods. Meals are provided. Late entry times are 9:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Fee for the retreat is $35/day or $70 for the full retreat. Limited accommodations are available. If you need a place to stay please let us know. No one is ever turned away from our practice for an inability to pay. Scholarships are available. Please let us know if you need one. Please register at our website so we know how much food to purchase and whether to expect people on Zoom, etc.

Buddha's Bookclub and regular Sunday practice are canceled this week due to the weekend retreat.

- June 21, 3:00 pm - 4:30
Kong An interviews with Rebecca Otte, JDPSN will be held in private during regular Sunday practice.

SAVE THE DATES
July 28 - August 2 - Five-day retreat ("Gentle Prairyerth Zen" - Come and sit in meditation when you can. Leave when you must.)
August – no retreats this month
September 5 - One Day Retreat

Current Events At Prairyerth Zen Center: Teaching RetreatWe had seven people attend one of our rare teaching retreats th...
05/20/2026

Current Events At Prairyerth Zen Center: Teaching Retreat

We had seven people attend one of our rare teaching retreats this past Saturday. Rebecca Otte, JDPSN, led the group of half fairly new people and half more experienced folks in a less formal format allowing for explanations of the how and why we do what we do during practice. This included some guided meditation and a nice dharma talk by Dharma Teacher, Lynn Shirley, followed by a rousing Q & A led by Rebecca. Reactions during the circle talk were all very enthusiastic

Retreatants were welcomed by Prairyerth's new shoe, coat, bag & purse rack located in the hall just outside the dharma room. Originally the home of Audrey Bosely's art supplies, this was a really generous donation by her husband Dennis who was kind enough to take it apart, transport it and put it back together at the Zen center where I'm sure it will get a great deal of use. Here is a photo of Dennis during a rest period.

Your True HomeBy Rebecca Otte, JDPSNThe main complaint of people new to meditation is that they can’t stop their thinkin...
05/19/2026

Your True Home
By Rebecca Otte, JDPSN

The main complaint of people new to meditation is that they can’t stop their thinking. Many times, someone will say, “ I can’t meditate because I’m never able to stop thinking.” Although we all eventually learn that zen meditation is more than just keeping a mind without thought, it isn’t uncommon for us to become completely frustrated with that thinking mind.

Robert Aitken Roshi put it like this: “It is difficult to concentrate on your practice if it’s about contention with your thoughts.” Contention. It’s like being in a boxing match with your brain while trying to find some calmness in life. Exasperated practitioners sometimes just give up. We come to zen meditation practice with our idea about how meditation should be or not be. When our minds don’t seem to obey the order to stay silent, we become frustrated. And so many times, we listen to our thinking mind as though every thought were the absolute truth. Wrestling with all of that is……well… contentious.

So what can we do? The thinking mind is natural - the normal function of a brain - just as the heart beating is its natural function. To be in contention with it is like berating your lungs for breathing.

First bring an attitude of openness and curiosity to your practice. Look upon your thinking mind as you would a small child - loving it, but still finding ways to guide it with gentleness and kindness. With each breath notice the silent spaces between your thoughts and bring your attentive curiosity to that space. Gradually your breath will slow. Your heart will slow and your thinking will begin to fade. That silent space is the mind before thinking - the foundation of your being, your true home - a place of creativity and renewal. Continue your meditation there.
.com

05/14/2026

Upcoming Events at Prairyerth Zen Center

May 16 Saturday 7:30 - 4:00 This Saturday! Be sure to register using the link below.
1-day teaching retreat led by Rebecca Otte, JDPSN, for those who are newish to Zen as well as for anyone who is interested. This retreat will be a less formal one and will include some practice as well as some teaching and discussion.. Please bring a sack lunch. Please register on our website. Online payment of $35 is also available. Scholarships are also available. No one is ever turned away for lack of payment.

May 17 Sunday 3:00 - 4:30
Kong an interviews with Rebecca Otte, JDPSN during regular Sunday practice.

June 6, 11:00 am - 12:00 at The Kansas Zen Center in Lawrence, KS
Practicing Forms: Embodied Zen with Zen Master Bon Hae (Judy Roitman) and Rebecca Otte JDPSN.
The formality of Zen practice can seem strange at first. What is the purpose of all these forms? How do they affect the rest of our lives? In this class we’ll focus on the simplest forms: standing bows, approaching the altar, hitting the moktak, hitting the bell, doing and not just talking. The cost is $20, contact us if you need a fee reduction. Hybrid. If you’re Zooming in and you don’t have a temple or bowl bell, have a metal mixing/salad bowl and a wooden spoon handy. Registration opens in early May on the Kansas Zen Center website.

June 12-14
– Yong Maeng Jong Jin - 2 day retreat led by Rebecca Otte, JDPSN. This event begins Friday evening at 6:30 pm with special chanting, reading of the Temple Rules and an encouragement talk. On Saturday, we'll begin practice at 7:30 am and continue throughout the day with rest periods. Meals are provided. Late entry times are 9:00 am, 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Fee for the retreat is $35/day or $70 for the full retreat. Limited accommodations are available. If you need a place to stay please let us know. No one is ever turned away from our practice for an inability to pay. Scholarships are available. Please let us know if you need one. Please register at our website so we know how much food to purchase and whether to expect people on Zoom, etc.

SAVE THE DATES
July 28-August 2 – 5 day retreat ("Gentle Prairyerth Zen" - Come and sit in meditation when you can. Leave when you must. )
August – no retreats this month

05/13/2026

To Hear The Silence Of Our True Nature
By Rebecca Otte, JDPSN


Many years ago there was a racing greyhound dog named Clear Mary. Dog racing is mostly illegal now, but back then people made a lot of money betting on dogs. In order to get the dogs to run, a mechanical rabbit was launched in front of them and the dogs would take off running, trying to catch this rabbit. Over and over - day after day, the dogs would only chase this mechanical rabbit around the track. And Clear Mary ran with them.

One day, the dogs began racing - the mechanical rabbit leading them on. All of a sudden, Clear Mary stopped and just watched the dogs running. She watched the mechanical rabbit round the bend of the oval track and watched the dogs chasing it. Her owners and all the people who had bet on her were very angry! “You stupid dog! Run! Run!” But Clear Mary just sat and watched. When the mechanical rabbit began to turn the curve, Clear Mary jumped over the guard rail, ran across the middle of the field, jumped over the next guardrail and caught the rabbit!!

We spend our whole lives chasing the mechanical rabbit - whatever that means to us. It could be money or s*x. It could be fame - wanting to be liked by everyone. It could even be grasping after enlightenment. When we constantly hold onto this wanting then we miss the openness and generosity of the present moment.

But we can use the story of Clear Mary in a different way. Clear Mary understood the situation completely just the moment before she stopped. The moment that brings us to meditation practice is like that. Somehow, we intuitively understand that just stopping to watch our breath, to listen to the innermost teachings of our heart, to hear the silence of our True Nature is the way of understanding - the way of true peace.

05/06/2026

UPCOMING EVENTS at Prairyerth (prairyerthzen.org)
May 10 Sunday 1:30 - 3:00
Buddha's Book Club is reading The Zen of Creativity by Zen Master, writer and photographer John Daido Loori will be discussed at this meeting! Book club will followed by regular Sunday practice. Come for one event or both.

May 16 Saturday 7:30 - 4:00
1-day teaching retreat led by Rebecca Otte, JDPSN, for those who are newish to Zen as well as for anyone who is interested. This retreat will be a less formal one and will include some practice as well as some teaching and discussion.. Please bring a sack lunch. Please register on our website. Online payment of $35 is also available. Scholarships are available. No one is ever turned away for lack of payment.

May 17 Sunday 3:00 - 4:30
Kong an interviews with Rebecca Otte, JDPSN during regular Sunday practice.

June 6, 11:00 am - 12:00 at The Kansas Zen Center in Lawrence, KS
Practicing Forms: Embodied Zen with Zen Master Bon Hae (Judy Roitman) and Rebecca Otte JDPSN.
The formality of Zen practice can seem strange at first. What is the purpose of all these forms? How do they affect the rest of our lives? In this class we’ll focus on the simplest forms: standing bows, approaching the altar, hitting the moktak, hitting the bell, doing and not just talking. The cost is $20, contact us if you need a fee reduction. Hybrid. If you’re Zooming in and you don’t have a temple or bowl bell, have a metal mixing/salad bowl and a wooden spoon handy. Registration opens in early May on the Kansas Zen Center website.

SAVE THE DATES
June 12-14 – 2 day retreat
July 28-August 2 – 5 day retreat ("Gentle Prairyerth Zen" - Come and sit in meditation when you can. Leave when you must. )
August – no retreats this month

Trust Don't Know!By Rebecca Otte, JDPSN I had coffee with a good friend a few days ago. She is a devoted Tibetan teache...
05/05/2026

Trust Don't Know!
By Rebecca Otte, JDPSN


I had coffee with a good friend a few days ago. She is a devoted Tibetan teacher and mystic. We were discussing some of her practices in the Tibetan tradition and one of them caught my attention. “Fruition is the path.”

Dogen Zenji, a 12 century Japanese monk, is famous for saying that sitting in “zazen” (or meditation) is in itself an act of enlightenment.

These two teachings are saying the same thing - that our practice of sitting and looking deeply into the mystery of Mind - is already fruition, is already enlightened activity. So then why do we sometimes feel that we aren’t making any progress in our practice or that our practice is stale or that we aren’t finding any meaning in our practice? Why is it that we begin to feel hopeless in our quest to understand?

Some years ago, I was complaining to my teacher that I wasn’t getting anywhere. I was still thinking so much on my cushion and I wasn’t having any insights and I was getting tired of even trying, etc., etc. As I complained, I really thought he was going to let me off the hook. “Oh, Rebecca - you poor thing. Why don’t you just take a break from practicing for awhile? You can come back to it later.” Instead he said, “Double the time you spend on your cushion and stop worrying about your thinking and stop trying to get insight! That will happen when it happens! Trust “Don’t Know!” I was taken aback.

There is a sense of hopelessness that grips us every now and then. We want to give up and yet giving up doesn’t feel like an option either. This dark night of the soul is in itself another kind of practice. It is another deep yearning to understand ourselves and the universe around us. Trust it! Keep sitting every day! Facing this “don’t know” is like falling into darkness sometimes and one can’t find their way out, but trust the journey. Continue asking the Great Question. Have faith in the way things are - whether easy or hard.

Address

1701 SW Collins Avenue
Topeka, KS

Website

https://www.instagram.com/prairyerthzencenter/

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