Zen Open Circle is a lively and very Australian Zen community that is open to every sincere enquirer, without exception.

What is Zen? What is ‘Zazen’?
Our practice is seated meditation (‘zazen’) in shared silence, together with walking meditation, some sutras and bows, talks and conversation with our Zen teacher. Zen invites us to wake up from the small dream of the self by paying steady, loving, open attention to the present moment. More about Zen meditation and how we practice.

Weekly Meditation
Weekly group meditation takes place every Friday from 6-8pm at Sangha Lodge, 20 Victoria Street, Lewisham. Easy parking, and only 50m from Lewisham Station. All are welcome including newcomers, but people needing more detailed orientation are encouraged to come to the next available Full-day Sit (see below) to meet with the teacher. Get map and more detail.

One-Day Sits with the Teacher
We also meet on the first Sunday of most months this year, for a One-Day Sit with the teacher, from 10.30am-3.30pm, at our old home, The Buddhist Library, 90 Church Street, Camperdown. Join us for a full retreat day of practice and teaching, plus a chance to share food and catch up. Newcomers welcome – orientation provided. Get map and more detail.

Our Teacher
Susan Murphy Roshi is our founding and resident Zen teacher, as well as being teacher for the Melbourne Zen Group (mzg.org.au). She is a joint lineage holder in the traditions of Diamond Sangha stemming from the late Robert Aitken, and Pacific Zen Institute, stemming from John Tarrant. Our line of Zen includes both Soto (‘just sitting’) and Rinzai (koan introspection) streams of practice. More about Susan Murphy Roshi.

2013 Sesshin Dates
Autumn:  Not available this year:
(See MZG Autumn sesshin April 6-13)

Spring:  Saturday October 5-Saturday October 12
Find out more about Sesshin

Dates for Your Diary

Sesshins and Retreats in 2013 with Susan Murphy Roshi

Autumn Sesshin with Melbourne Zen Group
April 6-13, Casa Pallotti, Upper Yarra Valley, Victoria

Winter Writing and Meditation Retreat
Cloud Mountain, Woodhill, via Berry NSW, dates tbc

Spring Seven Day Sesshin
October 5-12, Kodoji, Upper Macdonald River via St Albans, NSW

Keeping up to date

Do you wish to stay in touch with ZOC news and events? Email Keith McGuckin (k.mcguckin@bigpond.com) with your name from your preferred email address simply using the subject line 'Include Me In'. Our old Google Groups list has stopped working adequately and is no longer in use.