Louisville Zen Center
The Louisville Zen Center is a meditation group in the Rinzai-Sōtō lineage of the Rochester Zen Center, one of the oldest, largest, and most influential Zen centers in the United States. The Rochester Zen Center was founded by Roshi Zentetsu Philip Kapleau, author of The Three Pillars of Zen, one of the first books to clearly introduce the practice of Zen to Western readers.
The “center” in Louisville Zen Center is not a building; it isn’t a noun, but a verb. It’s something we do.
We are a community of practitioners who place the three pillars of Zen—teaching, practice, and awakening—at the center of our lives. As a close-knit group with a fully authorized local teacher, we benefit from direct guidance, personal attention, and a practice environment responsive to each individual.
Because our teacher is also one of the three teachers of the Rochester Zen Center, we are connected to a broader network of practice and support, with access to its resources while preserving the intimacy of a small, local group.
Speaking of small, local groups, Roshi Shodo Harada, Abbot of Sogenji—where our teacher trained in Japan—said, “Traditionally, it is said that three people and a true teacher, supporting and polishing one another, form a dōjō…where one can dig deep within and clarify the essence of Zen.”
To help people from all walks of life begin and deepen Zen meditation practice, cultivate mindfulness, and develop a zazen temper of mind, so they may meet daily life with greater clarity, equanimity, and responsiveness.
Our activities are open to everyone (18+): newcomers, longtime meditators, and practitioners from other traditions. We are committed to inclusivity. However, we do not offer mental health services.
Giving (Dana)
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit run entirely by volunteers. Your donations support Zen practice directly and may be tax-deductible.