North Carolina Zen Center

Introduction

The North Carolina Zen Center is a flourishing Buddhist community in Durham, North Carolina. The Center consists of a meditation hall, a kitchen, five dormitory rooms, and a shower house. All of the buildings are positioned by a stream within a large expanse of forest, which provides a calming and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere for meditation and contemplation. Zen Buddhism is a school of Mahayana Buddhism that emphasizes meditation as the best way to achieve awakening. In this vein, meditation is the principal focus of the NCZC. The Center maintains that practicing meditation is the best way to gain insight into oneself and come to understand the meaning of the Buddha’s teachings. Like most other states in the south, Christianity is the prominent religion of North Carolina. Over 77% of adults in North Carolina identify as Christians. While there are almost 9,000 churches located in the state, there are only about 50 Buddhist communities. The North Carolina Zen Center provides a refuge for those who wish to practice Zen Buddhism in a predominantly Christian state, as well as a sense of community and belonging. The Center gives individuals a chance to learn, grow, and connect with others who are also looking to expand their Zen practice.

 

Zen Buddhism and Lineage 

Zen Buddhism was brought to China in the sixth century CE by Bodhidharma. By the seventh century, Zen spread to Korea and by the twelfth century it had spread to Japan. Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki popularized the practice of Zen Buddhism in the West during the twentieth century. Japanese Zen Buddhism consists of three main sects; Obaku, Rinzai, and Soto. Soto Zen Buddhism is one of the largest of the three, and emphasizes silent seated meditation, known as zazen. Rinzai focuses on a sudden realization of enlightenment through shouts and other interruptions by the teacher during a meditation session. The NCZC incorporates elements of the Soto and Rinzai branches of Zen Buddhism into its practices. The NCZC website credits Diun Harada Roshi, Yasutani Roshi, and Philip Kapleau Roshi as the main sources of knowledge and inspiration for the Center’s teaching. Even though there are many different schools of Zen Buddhism, all prioritize the practice of zazen, “concentrated silent sitting.” The North Carolina Zen Center integrates the Rinzai method of introspection with the Soto practice of shikantaza. While these are the Center’s primary philosophies, the website makes it clear that NCZC’s main purpose is to establish a Zen Buddhist practice and community accessible to all. 

History of the Center

A group of Joshu Sasaki Roshi’s students founded the North Carolina Zen Center in the early 1970s. Sasaki was a Japanese teacher born in 1907, who moved to Los Angeles in the 1950s. He specialized in Rinzai Buddhism, a branch of Buddhism attempting to lead followers to awakening through intense sixteen hour meditation sessions. Sasaki was one of the most influential and well-known Zen masters in American history. However, in recent years, numerous women have come forward with sexual assault allegations. Many tried to share their stories years earlier, but were silenced by Sasaki and other leaders in the organization. 

The founder of the North Carolina Zen Center was Sandy Gentei Stewart. Raised in the Catholic church, Sandy began to question his religion as a teenager. When he heard a speech by Alan Watts, an English speaker who is credited for popularizing Eastern beliefs (like Buddhism) in the Western world, on the radio, he decided to study Buddhism and become a teacher. He served as the leader of the NCZC from 1978 to 2015. Over these 37 years, he oversaw the day-to-day operations of the organization, and led practices and retreats. However, for the first years of the NCZC’s existence, all retreats were held at the Squirrel Mountain Zendo in North Carolina, since the Center did not have suitable accommodations for retreats. One of Sandy’s primary goals for the Center was to construct a facility that could be used for retreats, and in 1995, one of his students helped him gain fifteen acres of land surrounding the Center. Construction began soon after. The meditation hall was completed three years later, and the dormitory building was finished in 2003. In April of 2015, Sandy handed over his position to Teshin Matthew Sweger, the current teacher at the NCZC. Teshin began his training at one of the most prominent Zen Buddhism centers in the US, the Rochester Zen Center in New York. Teshin then moved to Asheville, North Carolina, and continued his practice at the Windhorse Zen Community. In 2004, he was ordained by Roshi Lawson Sachter. He attended the Soto school, led by Roshi Sevan Ross. He received his Dharma Transmission, the ceremony in which an accomplished Zen teacher states that his/her student is capable of carrying on the Zen tradition, from Roshi Sevan Ross. After this, he returned to Rochester, becoming the Buddhist Chaplain at the University of Rochester. Teshin and his wife moved to Pittsboro in 2017, so he could take over as leader of the NCZC. In addition to his training in Zen Buddhism, Teshin is a licensed psychotherapist with a Master’s degree in mental health counseling. He runs his own private practice in Pittsboro, NC and primarily works with adults struggling with depression and relationship conflicts. He draws on his training in mindfulness meditation to help his patients work through their psychological challenges.

Traditions and Practices

The North Carolina Zen Center offers numerous services for members of a variety of interest levels. There are periods of zazen four times a week: Tuesday mornings and evenings, Thursday evenings, and Sunday mornings. Sunday morning services are the longest option, with two periods of zazen and kinhin (waking meditation) and the option to meet with the teacher one-on-one (called Dokusan). There is a Dharma talk after the meditation period called Teisho, for those who are interested. An informal tea and brunch follows these events. The Center also hosts annual events such as a New Year’s Eve Celebration, Buddha’s Birthday Celebration, Bodhidharma Day Ceremony, Ceremony of Gratitude, Buddha’s Enlightenment Ceremony, and an Annual Temple Cleaning. For members looking for a more immersive and intense experience, the Center offers retreats and residential practice opportunities. There are four silent retreats every year, one in each season. They typically last between three and six days, and participants can choose to stay the entire time or join part-time. The NCZC can house a total of twenty eight people in its seven dormitory rooms, which limits how many people can participate in the retreats. Residency is a more rigorous experience, where members live at the Center for a period of time. Residents are expected to attend all NCZC events and volunteer around the grounds. The Center also hosts a Bodhisattva Precepts Class, a six week class to deepen members’ understanding of the sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts. These precepts include the Ten Cardinal Precepts, the Three General Resolutions, and the Three Refuges. Participants explore the ethical side of Buddhism by reading The Mind of Clover by Robert Aitken, and The Heart of Being by John Daido Loori. The website provides a list of suggested readings for new members looking to learn more about Zen Buddhism, or for current members looking to deepen their practice. No matter one’s level of interest in Zen Buddhism, it is possible to find the right fit for a practice at the North Carolina Zen Center. 

Constituency

Joining the Center as a Member is the best way to first get involved in the organization. Members receive discounts, updates on events, and are able to work directly under the teacher, Teshin Sweger. Members are asked to give a minimum of twenty five dollars a month to the Center. NCZC members do not fit a single demographic; photos of members from the website show all types of people (both men and women ranging from young children to seniors). However, most members appear to be white and American-born, despite the fact that over half of all Durham residents are people of color. It seems as though there is a small group of core members who support the Center through volunteer work, donations, and participation in weekly events. More widely, there are many individuals who visit the Center only occasionally for residential stays, workshops, and annual celebrations. NCZC’s passion for spreading the benefits of Zen to the future generations is evident from their focus on young people. The temple has a vibrant youth program geared towards kids ages three through twelve. Older children are encouraged to volunteer to help leaders run the program. The youth program follows the curriculum laid out by Sumi Loundon Kim in “Sitting Together,” a guide to mindful parenting. In her “Children’s Lesson Plans” edition, she provides instructions for various kid-friendly activities, meditations, and songs for children that serve as the basis of the youth program. The group meets twice a month, while the adults are offered their regular events. The NCZC welcomes all those who are interested in learning more about Zen Buddhism, regardless of their experience level. Anyone can fill out a form located on their “For Newcomers” page to schedule an orientation before attending a formal practice.

Conclusion

The North Carolina Zen Center provides a rich Zen experience to people living in the Durham/Chapel Hill area. The secluded location of the Center creates a spiritual experience and allows members to clear their minds and come closer to awakening their inner Buddha. Drawing on the traditions of Soto and Rinzai Buddhism, Teshin Sweger leads multiple Zen sessions per week. Members, including children, can also participate in a variety of retreats, residencies, and annual events. Overall, the Center provides an authentic way for anyone interested to gain a deeper understanding of Zen Buddhism.

 

Works Cited:

BuddhaNet. “North Carolina.” World Buddhist Directory – Presented by BuddhaNet.Net, http://www.buddhanet.info/wbd/province.php?province_id=54.

“Matthew Sweger, LPC.” Matthew Sweger Psychotherapy, https://www.matthewsweger.com/.

The North Carolina Zen Center, https://nczencenter.org/.

“Religions – Buddhism: Zen Buddhism.” BBC, BBC, 2 Oct. 2002, https://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/buddhism/subdivisions/zen_1.shtml.

“Sandy Stewart, Osho.” Academy for Spiritual and Consciusness Studies, https://ascsi2.ning.com/page/sandy-stewart.

“Sitting Together: The Book Set.” Mindful Families, 29 Apr. 2017, https://mindfulfamilies.net/sitting-together-book-set/.

Vitello, Paul. “Joshu Sasaki, 107, Tainted Zen Master .” The New York Times, 4 Aug. 2014, https://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/us/joshu-sasaki-a-zen-master-tarnished-by-abuse-claims-dies-at-107.html.

Willets, Sarah. “Newcomers Are Changing the Face of Durham’s Population.” INDY Week, 23 Jan. 2018, https://indyweek.com/news/archives/newcomers-changing-face-durham-s-population/.

“Zen Meets Catholicism.” Sandy Stewart, Author at Miami Meditation Center, https://www.miamimeditationcenter.org/author/sandy-gentei-stewart/.

10 Most Religious States in America | Best States | US News. https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/slideshows/10-most-religious-states-in-america.