Orlando Zen Center

SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY: Sat 11/16, 9am – 3pm. Long Sit with special guest teacher (and kong-an interviews) Tim Colohan, JDPSN.

Tim Colohan, JDPSN practices at Dharma Zen Center in Los Angeles, CA. He started training with Zen Master Seung Sahn at Dharma Zen Center in 1985. He took 5 precepts in 1991 and 10 precepts in 1993. In 1995 he sat a 90-day Winter Kyol Che retreat at Hwa Gae Sah Temple and again in 1997 at Shin Won Sah Temple. His practice supports him in the day to day realities of the contemporary world. In 1992, he began a career in Set Decoration for TV and Film. In April of 2022 he received inka, permission to teach, from Zen Master Soeng Hyang at the Providence Zen Center. He has been on the Teachers Council of Long Beach Meditation since 2015. He practices with “Silver Lake Meditation Group” and a Pasadena interfaith group. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his husband Bernie. You can also read his inka speech.

Sunday Evening Practice again in Person

Sunday evening practice will again be hybrid. From Nov 17 on, we will meet again in person in the same bookstore location as before – the new bookstore owner moving into the space, The New Romantics, has agreed to offer us space for our sunday evening practice. Thank you Jane!

Our Tradition of Zen

Orlando Zen Center is an affiliate of the Kwan Um School of Zen, an international organization of more than a hundred centers and groups founded by Zen Master Seung Sahn (1927-2004), a Korean Zen Master who came to live and teach in North America in 1972.

The School’s purpose is to make the practice of Zen as accessible as possible. It is our wish to help human beings find their true direction and to save all beings from suffering.

Orlando Zen Center was founded as a local meditation group in 2000 and incorporated with the State of Florida in 2011.
In 2016 it received the name “Hwa Om Sa” (Flower Garland Temple.)

Meditation

There are many kinds if meditation such as counting breaths, watching the breath, keeping a question, using a mantra, chanting, prostrations, clear mind meditation, etc. You can read about these on the...

Guiding Teacher

Our Guiding Teacher is Zen Master Jok Um, (Ken Kessel). ZM Jok Um received inka (authorization to teach in the Kwan Um School of Zen) in April 1996 from Zen Master...

Events and Retreats

Retreats are an opportunity to deepen your practice. Retreats are an opportunity to deepen your practice. Retreats are an opportunity to deepen your practice. Retreats are an opportunity to deepen...

Everyone is welcome to practice with us!

You can join us for Sunday evening practice in person or on Zoom.

There is no need to let us know in advance before attending practice. We also offer retreats from half-day to multi-day – please attend our Sunday evening practice to learn more about retreat opportunities.

There is nothing special to know before attending. You do not need to have practiced Zen or even meditated before. We can give some simple instructions before practice if anyone needs them. Or, if you prefer to talk to someone and learn a little more before joining us at practice, please use the contact form.

There is no charge for our regular meditation practice. You may leave a donation.

We look forward to meeting you and hope we can be helpful in some way.

Latest News and Updates

October 29, 2024

Change change change

After Joybirds closed its doors, a new opportunity arose – in the same location! From mid-November on, we will be able to meet again in person in the same bookstore location as before – the owner of the new bookstore The New Romantics, has agreed to offer us the same space...

October 15, 2024

Thank you to Andrew and Joybird Books

A big THANK YOU to Joybird Books and Andrew Walker for offering OZC space for the last 2 years to hold our in-person practice on Sunday nights. As Joybird is closing at the end of October 2024, and we will look for a new location for in person practice on...

December 24, 2023

Sitting into the New Year 2023/2024

Once again, the tradition continues: Sitting into the New Year – online/on Zoom this year. We will start sitting at 7pm (EST) and alternate 30 minute sits with 10 min walks until shortly before midnight. We then chant Kwan Seum Bosal (Bodhisattva of Compassion) into the New Year until ten...

December 31, 2022

Sitting into the New Year

The tradition continues: Sitting into the New Year – online/on Zoom this year. We will start sitting at 8pm (EST) and alternate 30 minute sits with 10 min walks until shortly before midnight. We then chant Kwan Seum Bosal (Bodhisattva of Compassion) into the New Year until ten minutes or...

September 21, 2022

Return of In-Person Sunday Practice

Orlando Zen Center is returning to in-person practice on Sunday evenings at Joybird Books in Audubon Park: 3018 Corrine Drive, Orlando, Florida 32803 Directions. If attending in person, please wear a mask. The Zoom option continues.

May 30, 2022

New Website

We have recreated our website. Please excuse any mistakes or broken links that we may have overlooked in the process. This website is a work in progress.

Contact Us

Interested in meditating? We are happy to answer any questions you may have. Please don’t hesitate to contact us!