Protect the Jewel 2024-2025

We’d like to take a moment to thank you for all your support of the Cambridge Zen Center. Thanks to your generous donations, and a matching grant from the Historical Commission of Cambridge for $75,000, we have restored all three front entrances, stairways, vestibules, and gardens from 193 to 199 Auburn Street. This was a huge project that involved a lot of work and planning from the team at CZC. We hope you will be tempted to walk through these beautifully restored entryways to practice with us in person and on Zoom.

For over 50 years the Cambridge Zen Center has opened its doors every morning and evening, free of charge, offering the practices of sitting and walking meditation, bowing, chanting, classes, groups, weekly dharma talks, and monthly retreats. As one of the largest residential zen centers in the country, it’s awe-inspiring to think of the tens of thousands of people who have lived and practiced with our community. In addition to daily programs, we have developed a thriving young zen program, created a monthly social justice diversity and inclusion program, college zen communities, semiannually college retreat, an ongoing volunteer prison program and much more.

The cost of maintaining the programs and the zen center itself (in addition to our two apartment buildings) is very high. We have made alot of progress in repairing the deck, addressing the foundation and electrical issues, with outdoor lighting and repairing the trash enclosure area but we have far more to do. In 2025 we hope to replace the roof of the Main House, rebuild a resident room where the foundation was repaired, update more electrical, add to the outdoor lighting, repair the parking lot, continue to replace non-functioning windows, and some appliances. We are so happy to be able to offer excellent teachers from around the world to visit in person to lead retreats, offer talks and interviews.

We welcome your continued support, whether that may be joining us for practice and sangha events, volunteering for projects, or any tax-deductible financial contributions you are able to make. Please help CZC continue to offer Zen Master Seung Sahn’s teachings for the next fifty years and hopefully beyond!

Yours in the Dharma,

Zen Master Bon Yeon and the CZC Family