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our spring fund Appeal is underway. Thank you for your participation, generosity, and practice.
Our Goal: $10,000 ------ Received so far: $5148
A gift of any size is welcome and appreciated -- as is your moment-by-moment practice. Thank you! |
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Join us for Soto Zen Buddhist practice in Bloomington, Indiana.
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We practice Buddhism within the Soto Zen tradition that comes to us from Japan, following the particular style of our immediate three ancestors: Kodo Sawaki, Kosho Uchiyama and Shohaku Okumura.
Some of us are lay practitioners and some are ordained clergy, but we all engage in the same practices and walk the Buddha Way together. Everyone, whether beginner or experienced practitioner, is welcome. |
Several of the links throughout this website will connect you to our continually evolving companion-site, Sanshin Source: an online multimedia library of resources, context, and in-depth information organized around our practice vision.
This week at Sanshin (June 16 - 22)Click on the boxes below for information and timing related to a given practice activity. All times listed are Eastern Time.
Weekday morning practice (Monday - Friday)
Practitioners are welcome to participate in all or part(s) of morning practice activities as schedules allow, virtually or in-person. monday evening (June 16): ryaku fusatsu ceremony
7 - 8 pm Ryaku fusatsu ceremony
Our monthly ceremony of renewing our aspiration to follow the sixteen bodhisattva precepts. Virtual or in-person participation is welcome, whether or not you've formally taken precepts. If participating in-person, please arrive by 6:50 pm, to allow enough time for offering incense and purifying your rakusu or okesa if you have one. 
Tuesday evening (June 17): Nyoho-e sewing
6:30 - 8:30 pm Nyoho-e sewing
Practitioners gather to quietly sew nyoho-e (Buddha's robe) as a practice of zazen mind, working on their own rakusu or okesa, assisting others, or participating in the long-term project of sewing a temple okesa for Sanshin. No prior experience is necessary, but before showing up for the first time, please contact Esho Morimoto, who leads these sessions. 
Wednesday evening (June 18): zazen & dharma book discussion
thursday evening (June 19): open reality - Virtual talk & discussion with shodo spring
Sunday morning (June 22): Zazen & dharma talk
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Throughout 2025, we're undertaking an exploration we've named Tangible Thusness, a deep investigation of the teachings of nyoho: things done or made according to the dharma. From May through August, we're focusing primarily on nyoho teachings related to food, from formal oryoki meals in a temple to what and how we eat at home, work, or school. What can we learn about attachment and interconnectedness through offering our attention to sourcing, cooking, eating, and cleaning up our everyday meals? LEARN MORE Sanshin skywatch
Monday 16: Partly cloudy and very humid during morning practice; thunderstorms begin in the afternoon and continue through ryaku fusatsu in the evening. Some risk of excessive rain. Tuesday 17: Rain likely all day, covering morning practice and evening sewing. Wednesday 18: Thunderstorms likely all day, beginning with the end of morning practice and continuing during evening book discussion. |
Looking ahead: |
July 1 - 6: precepts retreat (register by Tuesday, June 24th)
Our annual precepts retreat focuses on the study of the sixteen bodhisattva precepts that Buddhists receive as guidelines for living a life of practice. The daily schedule includes zazen, presentations from the preceptor and ensuing group discussions, work periods, and silent communal meals. Studying and practicing the precepts alongside this year's precepts recipients, additional practitioners are welcome and encouraged to register for all or a selection of retreat days, whether or not you've formally received the precepts previously. LEARN MORE & REGISTER |
For a complete listing of our regular practice schedule and upcoming extended practice opportunities, see our Schedules and Calendars page.
Our practice
Our main activities are zazen, sitting quietly and letting go of thinking; working together on food, clothing and shelter according to Buddha's teachings, and on developing wise and compassionate leadership; studying the teachings of the Buddha and the ancestors of our lineage; and engaging in ritual that brings our community together across space and time. We do all this in the context of our six practice guidelines (see "Our Mission" below) and support each other in carrying forward this concentrated experience of interconnectedness throughout our everyday activities and communities.
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our mission
Sanshin Zen Community enables the investigation of interconnectedness as it manifests in community, by engaging in six guidelines for practice within the Soto Zen tradition:
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• Zazen in a Buddhist context
• Keeping forms simple • Balancing peace and progress |
• Dharma study as a support for zazen
• Work practice as an investigation of community • Deeply inquiring into the teaching of ehou ichinyo: kesa and dharma are one |
LEARN MORE about our six practice guidelines as direct legacies of our twentieth century dharma ancestors, alongside Uchiyama Roshi's seven points of practice.
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We're grateful for the financial support of our many friends and community members worldwide. Coming together as a sangha to take care of our temple and practice in this way is simply an instance of the universe carrying out its functioning. Thank you!
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Got a question?Start with our FAQ, and if you still need help, contact us. |
Sanshin's foreign language sanghas |