Vermont Zen Center
Affiliated Groups and Temples
The Vermont Zen Center’s community extends northward to Toronto, Canada and southward to Heredia, Costa Rica. We also have an affiliate group in New Hampshire.
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 is 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. Prior to the pandemic, she visited six times a year to conduct sesshins, retreats, training programs, ceremonies, and other activities.
The Casa Zen also has facilities for individual retreats. More information is on 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
Zendo, veranda, garden, and library of the Casa Zen
Toronto Zen Centre Kannon and Zendo han
Toronto Zen Centre zendo, temple, garden walkway, and kitchen
Toronto Zen Centre
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Throughout the years members of the Toronto Zen Centre remodeled the Centre, improving the gardens, adding a meditation room with a custom made Japanese style altar, building a large kitchen, redoing floors, plumbing, electrical and, in general, making this house into a place of dedicated spiritual practice.
Casa Zen
Santo Tomás, Costa Rica
The Casa Zen of Costa Rica is a warm and inviting place for the study and practice of Zen Buddhism. Since 1974, the Casa Zen has held intensive meditation retreats, ceremonies and other activities. In 1994, the Casa Zen purchased a house in Santo Domingo de Heredia which became the center for regular practice and retreats
Oxbow Zen Sangha
Canterbury, New Hampshire
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.