ABOUT BLUE CLIFF ZEN CENTER
We believe that Zen practice can be deeply nourishing and life-changing for anyone. We aim to make it useful and accessible. Blue Cliff Zen Center practice encourages the enhancement of well-being, vitality, and awareness of the body, energy, and mind. Our activities and practices support those with living grounded, awake lives in the busy modern world.
Our Zen Center is a western hybrid of Japanese Soto and Rinzai Zen. We hold the Soto Zen lineage through Daizan Skinner and the Rinzai Zen lineage through Shinzan Miyamae. Through Shinzan Roshi we teach the Hakuin-Inzan koan curriculum.
We are not a monastery nor a temple. We are a Zen center, emphasizing lay practice.
Among our unique features is how we offer an adaption of East Asian yoga blended with Indian yoga (Zen yoga) as a part of our regular practice. We've also offer a form of group sanzen taught by Zen master Shinzan into our foundational practices.
Our style is informal, but our practice is rigorous. We are committed to the Bodhisattva way, and the path of the awakened heart.
Anyone of good will is welcome to join us.
OUR STATEMENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION:
We are committed to creating a community and environment that welcome and support all people – regardless of their gender identity, age, race, ethnic origin, body type, religion, sexuality, and background.
NEW TO OUR ZEN CENTER?:
- It would be great to have you!
- Here's a link to a few things to consider when coming for the first time: link.
Attending Online:
- We offer weekly meditation sessions and some events online too. If you’d like to join us please send an email to bluecliffzen@gmail.com and we’ll send you the links.
- Mondays, Wednesday, and Fridays from 7 - 7:30am (online)
- Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 7 – 8am (in person and online)
- Sunday evenings from 4:30 – 6pm (in person and online)
- Breakthrough To Zen Retreats
- Seasonal Retreats
- Zenways Japan Trip
- Zen Jin Shin Workshops
- Zen Meditation Days
- Meditation/Mindfulness For Health & Well-Being Course
- Meditation/Mindfulness For Grounding & Insight Course
- Zenways Meditation/Mindfulness Teacher Training
- Zenways Yoga Teacher Training
- Studying to Become a Zen Teacher
CALENDAR OF EVENTS:
2026
Dates: Thursdays from 7-8:30pm. On break now, starts again Nov. 19. In person and online. Ongoing.
Next Book: “The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women” edited by Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon
Dates: 9 weekends in the fall of 2026/winter of 2027.
Dates: October 8 - November 12, 2026. 6 Thursdays from 7-8:30pm in Eugene. In-person and online.
Dates: Friday, October 9 (7pm) - Sunday, October 11 (1pm), 2026. In Yachats, Oregon. In-person. Led by Shinkai.
Dates: Thursday, October 29 - Sunday, November 1 (2pm), 2026. At Grove Camp in Dorena, Oregon. In-person. Led by Shinkai.
Date: Saturday, November 7. Big Bear Retreat Center. Saturday from 9am - 5pm. Bring a packed lunch.
Date: Monday, December 7 (9:30pm) - Tuesday, December 8 (7am). At Blue Cliff and Online. All Night Retreat.
2027
Dates: Thursday, January 7 (6pm) - Sunday, January (2pm), 2027. At Grove Camp in Dorena, Oregon. Led by Shinkai Roshi.
Dates: January 14 - February 11, 2027. 5 Thursdays from 7-8:30pm in Eugene. In-person and online.
Dates: Friday, January 22 (7pm) - Sunday, January 24 (1pm), 2027. In Yachats, Oregon. In-person. Led by Shinkai.
Dates: Thursday, March 18 (6:30pm) - Sunday, March 21 (3:30pm), 2027. Online. Led by Shinkai Roshi. West Coast Time.
Dates: Friday, April 23 (7pm) - Sunday, April 25 (1pm), 2027. In Yachats, Oregon. In-person. Led by Shinkai.
Dates: May 9 - May 21. A Zen sesshin (Nakatsugawa, Gifu) followed by sightseeing and cultural activities (Nara and Kyoto). With Daizan Roshi and Shinkai Roshi.
Dates: Thursday, June 17 (6pm) - Sunday, June 20 (2pm), 2027. In person at Grove Camp in Dorena, OR. Led by Shinkai Roshi.
Date: Sunday in July at 4:30pm.
Dates: Friday, July 23 (6pm) - Wednesday, July 28 (1pm), 2027. At Big Bear in Walton, Oregon. 3 day and 5 day options. In-person. Led by Shinkai. Theme: Zen Master Keizan's Transformational and Visionary Life and Practice.
Dates: Sunday, August 22 - Sunday, August 29 in Walton, OR.
Dates: Thursday, September 2 - Sunday, September 5, 2027. Online. Led by Daizan Roshi and Shinkai Roshi. East Coast Time.
SUPPORT US
Please consider supporting us by making a one-time donation (secure PayPal “donate”) or by being a monthly sponsor for a Zen meditation session at our center. It really helps. Please see our sponsor page to sign up. If you’d like to make a donation now, please click the link below and login to PayPal for a secure transaction. Be sure to provide us with your name and contact information so we can issue you a contribution receipt at the year’s end. For your records, our EIN is 81-3626615.