From there, to here

Awaken Your Sunday
With Zen Meditation, Wisdom & Connection.

Upcoming Programming

Six Paramitas: Courage and Grace Under Fire begins June 6
from $159.00

The Zen path is not only a path of sitting–it’s a path of living. At its heart is the Bodhisattva vow: a commitment to meet the suffering of the world with wisdom, compassion, and an open heart. In this course, you’ll explore the Six Paramitas–six profound practices that have guided Zen practitioners for centuries–and learn how to bring them to life in your own daily experience.

As the third and culminating course in our Core Curriculum, this four-session series, taught by our Abbot, Roshi Robert Althouse, offers a complete map for the spiritually engaged life:

  1. Awakened Heart: Zen-inspired Living – Discover bodhicitta, the awakened heart that forms the bedrock of Zen practice and the Bodhisttva’s way.

  2. Generosity & Discipline: Overcoming Greed and Ignorance – The first two paramitas invite us to return to our innate generosity and cultivate the discipline that sustains practice and joyful living.

  3. Patience & Energy: Overcoming Anger and Laziness – Learn how to meet anger with skill and find the inner energy that carries you through difficulties.

  4. Meditation and Wisdom in Daily Life – The final two paramitas weave contemplative depth into the fabric of everyday life.

Early Bird Special– Register before May 9
Nonmembers $179 (regular $199); Members $159 (regular $179)
Dates: June 6, 13, 20, & 27 | Saturdays, 10:00-11:30 AM CST | Online

Meditation for Everyone, begins May 7
from $110.00

OPEN YOUR HEART, FIND YOUR TRUE NATURE

Four-week course | Hybrid

Begins Thur.. May 7th | 6:30–8:00 PM

Feel overwhelmed by stress? Struggling to quiet the mind? You’re not alone–and there’s a proven path forward.

This beginner-friendly course gives you everything you need to start a sustainable meditation practice. In just four weeks, you’ll learn evidence-based techniques drawn from 2,500 years of Buddhist wisdom, now validated by modern neuroscience.

What you’ll gain:

  • Practical tools to reduce stress and anxiety immediately

  • Clear, step-by-step guidance from experienced teachers

  • Understanding of how meditation physically changes your brain

  • A daily practice you’ll actually stick with

  • A supportive community of fellow learners

Perfect for: Complete beginners, stressed professionals, parents, caregivers, anyone seeking more calm and clarity in daily life.

No special equipment, prior experience, or beliefs required. Just bring an open mind and your good heart.

Pricing:
Nonmember-$135, Member-$110

Bonfire Social - May 19
$0.00

Join us Tuesday evening at 7:00 PM for a Bonfire Social in the ZLMC backyard. We’ll provide the snacks, you bring the drinks. Hope to see you then.


About

Cultivating mindful awareness through our practice

Zen meditation and the cultivation of mindful awareness form the core of our practice, offering profound benefits such as stress management, deeper relationships, and a richer life experience.

A man with long white hair and glasses is sitting in a black chair in a mindfulness class at Zen Center | Zen Life & Meditation Center | Oak Park, IL

The center is like a breath of fresh air in this chaotic and ungrounded time in history. It has given me an insightful perspective on what is essential in this life we all share.

ZLMC Member

Become a steward
of our Sangha community

Deepen your practice and expand our impact by becoming a member