The Vermont Zen Center’s community extends northward to Toronto, Canada and southward to Heredia, Costa Rica. We also have a new affiliate group in New Hampshire. Photo is of the Toronto Zen Centre. Roll over for photo of the Oxbow Zen Sangha building.
Toronto Zen Centre
Founded in 1967 by Roshi Philip Kapleau, the Toronto Zen Centre is the oldest Zen center in Canada. For many years it operated as an affiliate of the Rochester Zen Center, but became independent in 1987. Roshi Graef was the teacher there for ten years. In 2004 she handed over leadership to her Dharma Heir, Roshi Taigen Henderson.
The Toronto Zen Centre now operates as a fully independent Centre, conducting a wide range of activities including daily zazen, private instruction (dokusan), sesshin, retreats, ceremonies, and many other events. Despite their independent status, the Toronto Zen Centre and Vermont Zen Center retain strong ties and consider themselves part of a Triple Sangha, along with the Casa Zen in Costa Rica.
Casa Zen de Costa Rica
The Casa Zen was founded in 1974 after a series of introductory workshops given by Roshi Philip Kapleau at the Japanese Embassy in San José, Costa Rica. Since then, the Casa Zen has held intensive meditation retreats, ceremonies and other activities regularly. In 1994, the Casa Zen purchased a house in Santo Domingo de Heredia, which became the center for regular practice and retreats.
Roshi Graef has been the teacher of the Casa Zen Sangha since 1988. She visits six times a year to conduct sesshins, retreats, training programs, ceremonies, and other activities.
The Casa Zen also has facilities for individual retreats. For more information please see their Spanish/English website. A photo gallery of the Casa Zen is on the Gallery page.
Oxbow Zen Sangha Affiliate
Near Concord, New Hampshire, the Oxbow Zen Sangha in Canterbury was founded in 2010 by longtime VZC member Greg Heath. It currently meets once a week at the newly constructed Concord Friends Meeting House. This is the first affiliate group of the Vermont Zen Center that has been started by a member of the Sangha.
- Location: 11 Oxbow Pond Road, Canterbury, NH
- Contact: Greg Heath