Call for online sanghas/teachers

https://www.reddit.com/r/zenbuddhism/comments/1i6wpz5/call_for_online_sanghasteachers/

created by HakuninMatata on 21/01/2025 at 23:30 UTC

33 upvotes, 23 top-level comments (showing 23)

Hey all. We regularly get people asking about online teachers and sanghas. I'd like to create a wiki page for the sub, a list of these links.

Obviously we have Jundo here and Treeleaf is often recommended. There's also someone (I can't remember who precisely) who has a list of links they've helpfully posted many times.

So please comment here with recommendations, of links and also what you might expect from online sanghas and teachers, and any tips for finding a good fit.

We'll collect them and put them into a wiki page once we've got a good big list.

Comments

Comment by awakeningoffaith at 21/01/2025 at 23:48 UTC*

7 upvotes, 1 direct replies

I was the one who had that list. Here it is. I define online training as not just zoom zazen but also being able to interview with the teacher and receive instructions. This, after all, is what defines zen training, the meeting of teacher and student.

Most highly recommended teacher of the list. Sozui trained with Harada Roshi for decades in a Japanese Rinzai monastery and she received Inka recently and now she's a fully transmitted Roshi. Online practice, talks, open question and answer sessions and one on one interviews on demand. https://staging.hvzc.org/calendar-2-2-2-2/

Zen Studies Society, offers Rinzai Zen daily practice, online teishos, retreats, also one on one formal interviews with teachers https://zenstudies.org/zss-digital-meetings/

Hyon Gak Sunim of Zen Center Regensburg, offering Korean Zen. He has an online course, and he offers online retreats every once in a while. I'm not sure if he's offering interviews. https://www.mirrorofzen.com/[1] https://zen-center-regensburg.com/online-retreats/[2]

1: https://www.mirrorofzen.com/

2: https://zen-center-regensburg.com/online-retreats/

Online support of Kwan Um Zen is well developed, and available to everyone. Korean Zen in the lineage of he famous late Seungsahn Haengwon. https://www.kwanumzenonline.org/membership

Tallahassee chan center and Guo Gu offer a variety of online courses and retreats in Chan Buddhism in Dharma Drum lineage of Sheng Yen and practice. For anyone who completes a retreat with him there's a WhatsApp group to chat with other practitioners and also ask Guo Gu Laoshi any questions. https://tallahasseechan.org/[3] https://guogulaoshi.com/[4]

3: https://tallahasseechan.org/

4: https://guogulaoshi.com/

London Chan group is connected to Dharma Drum and Guo Gu. They invite Chang Wu Fashi, Guo Gu and other Chan teachers from Sheng Yen lineage regularly for instructions and questions. https://londonchanmeditation.org/

Comment by OverAssistance6236 at 21/01/2025 at 23:44 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Bright Way Zen has an active and engaged online component to their sangha -- Zoom participation (including participatory roles), online resources, the Zen Studies Podcast, etc.

https://brightwayzen.org/[1][2]

1: https://brightwayzen.org/

2: https://brightwayzen.org/

Comment by genjoconan at 22/01/2025 at 00:31 UTC

5 upvotes, 0 direct replies

In addition to whatever recommendations we see here, I'd also suggest: since the pandemic, many Buddhist temples (not just Zen) offer much of their practice in a hybrid format, including the opportunity to speak with a teacher. If there is a temple or teacher to which you feel an affinity, check to see if they have an online presence. Chances are, they do.

Comment by Same-Statement-307 at 22/01/2025 at 00:09 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

This site lists several web pages for zen centers with online sittings, classes, etc: https://whiteplum.org

Comment by soulmanyogi at 22/01/2025 at 15:52 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Upaya and Everyday Zen have sangha meetings and sits online. Also Zen Mountain Monastery offers live streams. 🙏

Comment by Ariyas108 at 23/01/2025 at 14:47 UTC

3 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Kwan Um Zen has a number of centers around the world with online offerings. https://americas.kwanumzen.org/online-sangha-offerings

Comment by ClioMusa at 21/01/2025 at 23:37 UTC

9 upvotes, 2 direct replies

The only people I see recommending Treeleaf and Jundo at this point, after his own behavior on here and the AI fiasco, are Jundo himself and his own students.

Comment by blush_inc at 22/01/2025 at 01:33 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Thousand Harbours Zen is almost fully virtual now

Comment by gregorja at 22/01/2025 at 04:01 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Great idea!

During the pandemic I practiced virtually with Daiyuzenji[1], a Rinzai temple in Chicago. It was a nice group to practice with.

1: https://daiyuzenji.org

Comment by the100footpole at 22/01/2025 at 10:37 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

The *Being without self* sangha associated with Jeff Shore has many online groups: https://beingwithoutself.org/groups/groups2/[1][2]

1: https://beingwithoutself.org/groups/groups2/

2: https://beingwithoutself.org/groups/groups2/

Comment by Mr_Tarradiddle at 22/01/2025 at 15:36 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

My sangha meets online every day and has special programs on Wednesdays and Sundays. It is a small group with members from across the US. Zazenkai half-day retreats a few times per year and a very welcoming environment. We study a few books in a rotating schedule every month. https://tworiverszen.org/[1][2]

1: https://tworiverszen.org/

2: https://tworiverszen.org/

Comment by alasdairgf at 22/01/2025 at 16:52 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

StoneWater Zen Sangha in the UK (a White Plum group) has online zazen, talks, dokusan with transmitted teachers and interviews with hoshis/'dharma holders' (non-transmitted senior students). Details at [https://www.stonewaterzen.org/stonewater-zen-online%5C[1]].

1: https://www.stonewaterzen.org/stonewater-zen-online%5C

Comment by enlightenmentmaster at 22/01/2025 at 19:15 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Supreme Bodhi Zendo in University Place Washington Sangha, has a weekly meditation and a weekend Zen Buddhist service in person or virtual via WebEx.

Contact is supremebodhizen@protonmail.com

Comment by enlightenmentmaster at 22/01/2025 at 01:19 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

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Comment by dready at 22/01/2025 at 02:06 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Choboji is a Rinzai sangha in Seattle that offers a hybrid online mode of participation for their events: zazen, sesshin, sanzen, etc. Site: https://choboji.org/[1][2]

1: https://choboji.org/

2: https://choboji.org/

Comment by Frozeninserenity at 22/01/2025 at 02:11 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Clare Sangha/Zen Community of Baltimore has offerings nearly every day, primarily operates on zoom, with in-person offerings typically on a monthly basis. I am linking below the sangha calendar page, with additional information.

https://claresangha.org/calendar/[1][2]

1: https://claresangha.org/calendar/

2: https://claresangha.org/calendar/

Comment by ConsiderationNew6295 at 22/01/2025 at 08:09 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Zen Community of Oregon has an extensive online presence. Zendust.org

Comment by Early_Oyster at 22/01/2025 at 09:02 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

If anyone’s looking for an English speaking Southeast Asian Zen sangha- Sanbo Zen Philippines accepts online members as long as you get your orientations. You can go to zenphilippines.org.ph

Comment by Normal_Palpitation17 at 22/01/2025 at 11:46 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Rochester Zen Center offers daily zazen, private instruction, and sesshin all over zoom. Highly recommend! Rzc.org

Comment by enlightenmentmaster at 22/01/2025 at 15:45 UTC*

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

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Comment by Willyworm-5801 at 22/01/2025 at 16:03 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Jeff Shore, Zen layperson, has several Buddhist talks on YouTube. People can find him by typing in: Jeff Shore. Buddhist lectures