Fort Worth Zendo

A place for Zen practice in Fort Worth, Texas

The Fort Worth Zendo is a nonprofit group of Zen practitioners who meet in Fort Worth to practice traditional silent meditation as a community. We are affiliated with the Maria Kannon Zen Center in Dallas.

The Maria Kannon Zen Center was formed in 1991 as a place for people of various backgrounds and faiths to practice Zen. The members are bound together by a common commitment to cultivate wisdom and compassion. The center's primary task is to offer people an opportunity to practice Zen.

Maria Kannon members practice Zen in the lay Zen tradition of the Sanbo Kyodan Religious Foundation based in Kamakura, Japan. The Sanbo Kyodan lineage was founded by Yasutani Hakuun Roshi in 1954, and it was based on the Zen teaching and practice of Harada Sogaku Roshi. The lineage brings together elements of the Soto and Rinzai Zen traditions.

Searching for the Ox

When & Where

Schedule

We sit Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 8pm, every week.

We practice silent, seated meditation (zazen) for 3 intervals of 25 minutes long. This is interspersed with 5 minutes of walking meditation (kinhin). We close with some traditional zen buddhist chants and occasional discussion. Some practitioners come and go for one session and some stay for the whole evening.

If you are planning to attend a portion of the session, please plan to join or exit quietly during kinhin. Chairs, zabutons/zafus (cushions) or sieza (kneeling) benches are provided; or attendees are welcome to bring their own.

Location

We are sitting in room 206, 2nd floor at Meadowbrook-Poly United Methodist Church

3900 Meadowbrook
Fort Worth, TX 76103

Enter at the Church Office Door on the West side of the building.

Meditation

Zazen: Zen Meditation

Zen meditation, known as zazen (坐禅), is the heart of our practice. While there are many forms of meditation, zazen emphasizes sitting in awareness. For those new to meditation, we begin with the fundamental practice of following the breath.

Person practicing zazen meditation

Posture

Find a comfortable seated position. You can:

  • Sit cross-legged on a cushion (zafu)
  • Use a meditation bench (seiza)
  • Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor

Keep your back straight but not rigid. Your hands can rest in your lap, with the left hand on top of the right, palms up, and thumbs lightly touching.

The Practice

Begin by bringing your attention to your breath:

  1. Notice the natural rhythm of your breathing
  2. Focus on the sensation of breath at your nose or abdomen
  3. When your mind wanders (and it will), gently return to the breath
  4. Don't try to control or change your breathing - just observe it

Common Challenges

It's natural to experience:

  • Wandering thoughts - gently return to the breath
  • Physical discomfort - adjust your posture if needed
  • Restlessness - this will pass with practice
  • Sleepiness - try opening your eyes slightly

Tips for Practice

  • Start with short sessions (5-10 minutes)
  • Practice regularly, even if briefly
  • Be patient with yourself
  • Remember: there's no "right way" to meditate

Contact

Newcomers

If you are new to zen and/or new to the group, we provide a brief orientation before our sessions. Please send an email to in order to setup a time before our normal weekly meditations and someone will be there to greet you and introduce you to our practice.

Alternatively, The in Dallas, TX provides more in depth orientation classes including the history of zen, our tradition (Sanbo Kyodan), instruction from teachers and other benefits. Many of our members visit both centers regularly.

For more information about our practice and schedule, please contact us at:

For more information about zen in general, read this brief introduction from the Maria Kannon Zen Center: