Visitor Guide

Visitors and Prospective Members

We welcome visitors to our temple on Sundays for our morning service (starts at 10:00 am) prior to becoming a member. If you are planning on visiting us for the first time, please email us prior to coming so that we can anticipate your visit: dgz@dharmagatezen.org.

If you are a student visiting for the purpose of a class assignment, please indicate this in your email so we can provide you with one of our clergy members to answer any specific questions you may have after the service.

Dharma Gate Zen is a traditional Zen temple and as such, our teachings are rooted in the principles and practices of Zen rather than other forms of Buddhism or related belief systems. Our teachings follow those found in the original Zen lineage. We are non-theistic and instead focus on practical ways individuals can cultivate balance, harmony, and peace in themselves and those around them.

Dharma Gate Zen is an independent order, and not affiliated with other temples.

Service Overview:

We have a service guide available near our shoe room to help understand what we are chanting, and how the service will proceed.
Our Sunday service starts with a mindful bell, short chanting of the Three Treasures (in Pali), and the Heart-Mind Sutra (in English).
We sit in silent meditation for 20 minutes and then one of our clergy members will give a Dharma talk.
If there is time after, we will also allow for a short Q&A session. Questions should be in relation to the talk, however if you have additional questions, those can be answered after service.
Following the Q&A, we chant the Bodhisattva Vow together, and then we gather for tea (provided).

Additional Visitor Guidelines:

Wear comfortable clothing as we sit on mats on the floor, though chairs are also available.
Remove shoes and place in the shoe room by the door. Shoes are not allowed on the Zendo floor and we ask that you wear socks.
It is best to plan to arrive at least five minutes ahead of the start of our service to avoid distraction to others. If you do arrive late, please enter quietly, and wait near the shoe room until an opportunity arises to find a seat.
We are committed to preserving our temple as a refuge for our sangha. Compassion, respect, tolerance, and harmony are among our core values. Harmful speech and behaviors are prohibited.
Please respect the fact that we are aligned with traditional Zen teachings. We do not worship the Buddha nor do we believe in reincarnation. Instead, we concern ourselves with our lived reality as we experience it on a day-to-day basis.
As a non-profit, religious organization, we do not discuss politics, or world events, particularly those beyond our direct control. We focus on what we ourselves can experience and what is within our immediate capacity to change.
Children are welcome, but should be able to sit quietly for 20 mins during meditation. Our meditation time is very quiet and any movement can cause distraction for those around you, so please plan accordingly.
We do not allow solicitation for businesses, other classes, or other belief systems in our Zendo. If you have something to share that does not directly relate to Zen Buddhism, please approach the abbot for review prior to discussing with members, or leaving information or business cards on our tables or bulletin board.
If you would like to donate after your visit, we have a bowl available at the door.

Membership

If you are interested in becoming a member, we do ask that you visit first. After your visit, if you are interested in becoming a member, please reach out to one of our leaders who will discuss what membership entails. We are a non-profit organization and there are no paid staff or clergy. Thus, we request monthly donations to maintain the facilities. Because we are a membership-based organization, our programs, classes, events, services, and meditations are only available to members (and generally do not require additional costs).