Cambridge Zen Center (CZC)

The Cambridge Zen Center is such a gem in Central Square! I have been practicing here for decades, and the practice offerings and community remain consistently strong and vibrant! I also lived at CZC for more than a few years and found it to be a wonderful way to deepen my practice and live in community. Not only does CZC offer many opportunities for meditation, including monthly weekend retreats, but they create opportunities to get to know the community through public dinners, tea & snacks after long sitting and dharma talks, seasonal events, etc. It’s a very special place and longstanding community space in mid-Cambridge. Check it out!

I had a wonderful experience at the Cambridge Zen Meditation center. Attended College retreat! The atmosphere was incredibly calming and serene, with beautiful natural elements like plants and water features that helped me relax. The instruction and teachers were excellent, providing clear guidance and support throughout the meditation practice. I found that attending the center regularly helped me manage my stress and feel more centered in my daily life. The facilities were comfortable and clean, with everything I needed for a peaceful meditation experience. Overall, I highly recommend the Cambridge Zen Meditation center to anyone looking to deepen their meditation practice and cultivate greater peace in their lives.

Friendly folks living in beautiful zen practice space. There is a large meditation hall, daily practice morning, afternoon sitting, and evening sitting and chanting. Dharma talks with Q&A session onThurs nights. Tuesday night public dinner $8-$10 donation.

I would like to share that I just attended my first meditation 🧘🏽‍♀️ retreat at the Cambridge Zen Center (August 2019). It was such a wonderful, profound and powerful experience. Really insightful. Zen Master, the teachers and the friends that I made during the retreat were delightful. I wish to continue this wonderful practice of mindfulness as often as possible, and I very much look forward the next retreat!! Wish you a peaceful day 🌱

A Zen Master once asked his students: "Is the boddhisattva way to use Google maps to navigate, or not to use it? If you use it, you are attached to its directions, and I will give you one thousand lashes, and if you do not use it, you are attached to emptiness, and I will give you one thousand lashes. So, what do you do?" His student calmly picked up his phone, opened the Google maps app, and rated Cambridge Zen Center with 5 stars. A Google maps poem: Five stars shine bright, CZC gets rave reviews. The mountain, still unmoving, Clouds gather against the sunset. I hope you only go straight--don't know, and that your Google maps usage saves all beings from suffering. Yours in the Dharma, John Juices.

Largest residential dharma center in the U.S., in one of the more established and authoritative Zen schools. You can read about Zen all day, but if you want to experience the real thing, drop by almost any day.

CZC is a beautiful building. You'll be welcomed with open arms even as a complete noobie to Zen/Buddhism/meditation. A great place to practice.