Your first visit

If you are new to meditation, to Zen Buddhism, or to the center, start with the Introduction to Zen Meditation. It meets every Sunday morning and Tuesday evening, in person and on Zoom. Come to whichever one suits you.

Two people sitting in meditation on black cushions, facing the wall of the meditation hall

The essentials

When: Sundays, 10 to 11 am
Tuesdays, 7:30 to 8:30 pm
In person, please arrive 5 to 10 minutes early so we can get everyone oriented and settled in the classroom.
Where: 3343 East Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55408. Directions and parking
Cost: Recommended donation of $10
Register: No need. This is an ongoing drop-in group, open to the public.
Online: Every class is offered on Zoom at the same time as in person. Please keep your camera on and think of it as an interactive process.

Join the introductory class on Zoom

What happens in a session

Each session includes meditation instruction and teaching on how meditation and Zen relate to daily life.

The meditation you will learn is zazen, or “seated Zen,” the traditional Zen Buddhist meditation practiced here. It uses no specific object of meditation. You remain as much as possible in the present moment, aware of what passes through your mind and around you.

It is simple but profound, taking only a few minutes to learn but a lifetime to master.

On Sundays, tea and social time follows at 11 am, except during retreats.

Four parts, in any order

The introduction is a series of four classes. Join any Sunday or Tuesday, then return the next three weeks to complete the cycle. The parts are not sequential, so you may attend them in any order.

You are welcome to attend as many sessions as you like. Attend all four for the best overview.

1st week: Four Noble Truths
2nd week: The Bodhisattva Way
3rd week: To Study the Way is to Study the Self
4th week: Mindfulness
5th week: Open Topic

Weeks are counted by the Sunday or Tuesday of the month: the 1st Sunday and 1st Tuesday cover the Four Noble Truths, and so on.

Coming in person

You don’t need any experience, and you don’t need to bring anything.

What to wear: Comfortable, looser clothing is best. Darker, muted colors are preferred. Please avoid clothing with lettering or images, and shorts or short skirts.
Scents: Please avoid perfume, aftershave, cologne, or heavily scented products, out of care for people who are chemically sensitive.
Access: The building has wheelchair access, and there are accessible restrooms on the first floor. If you have a question about seating or access, call (612) 822-5313 or email info@mnzencenter.org before you come.

The Minnesota Zen Meditation Center, a white two-story building among trees, with a wooden gate at the left

Getting here and parking

The center is at 3343 East Bde Maka Ska Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55408. There are three places to park.

Parkway: On-street parking on East Bde Maka Ska Parkway.
34th Street: On-street parking behind the center on 34th Street, west of Irving Avenue, easily reached from Hennepin Avenue. After you park, walk down the sidewalk toward Bde Maka Ska. The center is the third building on your right.
Alley: The upper alley behind the center, reached from 33rd or 34th Street. Please park only in the spots marked Zen Center Parking.

Open in Maps

Questions before you come? Call (612) 822-5313, email info@mnzencenter.org, or see contact and parking.

After the introduction

Come sit with us. The weekly schedule of silent meditation is open to everyone, for all or any part.

See the weekly schedule