About MZMC Minnesota Zen Meditation Center was formed in 1972 when our founding head teacher, Dainin Katagiri Roshi, (1928-1990) was invited to come from California to teach a group of Minneapolis students interested in the dharma. After Katagiri Roshi's death, Shohaku Okumura served as interim head teacher until the installation of Karen Sunna, one of Katagiri Roshi's 12 dharma heirs. Succeeding Karen as head teacher is Tim Burkett, a long-time student of both Katagiri and Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. Tim became head teacher in 2002. Today MZMC works to maintain a vibrant, welcoming community committed to the teaching and practice of Zen Buddhism. Everyone is welcome at MZMC, regardless of practice experience. First-time visitors, those just beginning a meditation practice, and long-time students (current and returning) are all welcome. Visitors who may be expecting to find an exotic group of people at MZMC are sometimes surprised to find that the sangha is made up of average, householding Americans who are committed to Buddhist practice. Everyone can develop a meditation practice, and people who participate at MZMC are encouraged to establish meditation practices that work for them. These may include traditional Soto Zen activities, activities from other Buddhist traditions, or both. Participants study and practice at their own pace. There are many ways to participate, connect, and get to know others at MZMC. Activities include zen meditation (zazen), lectures, work practice (volunteering in a way that's meaningful for the participant), retreats, classes and workshops on Buddhist studies and daily-life topics, and practice help and support from teachers and sangha members. For a complete schedule of classes and events, please see our calendar page. MZMC is a member-supported non-profit organization operated by a board of directors and small staff. Membership support is vital to continued practice and programming at MZMC. All support is valued and appreciated. For more about membership, please see our Membership page. The MZMC BoardThe MZMC Board meets for two hours once a month, generally on the 4th Sunday at 11:10 a.m. The meetings are open to the public, and you are invited to attend. Notes from the meetings are available upon request from the MZMC office. In March each year, the Board reports to the community at the annaul sangha meeting. This year the meeting takes place on Sunday, March 21, at 10 a.m. At this meeting, board members report on what is happening in our organization, how we are doing financially, and what our plans are going forward. They also hand out a feedback sheet. MZMC members will elect new Board Members. Non-members are very welcome at the meeting, but may not vote in the election. Current Board Members
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MZMC is a registered non-profit charitable organization in the state of Minnesota