Black Mountain Zen Centre

Black Mountain Zen Centre Online zazen Mon-Fri 7 am, and Sat and Sun 10 am. Now also in person Tues 7 am, Wed 7:30 pm and Sun 10 am Whatever you do.

Welcome

Black Mountain Zen Centre is based in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter and has affiliated groups throughout Northern Ireland. Our practice is Soto Zen in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. We are guided in our practice of the Buddha’s way by Ryushin Paul Haller Roshi, an authorised Dharma Heir of the Suzuki Roshi lineage, former Abbot of San Francisco Zen Centre and Tassajara Zen Mountain Monastery. We emphasise the practice of Zazen (meditation) as the essence of Shakyamuni Buddha’s practice, together with the keeping of precepts and the cultivation of compassion and wisdom. Please browse our site and find out a little more or click here to get in touch.

“Just to be alive is enough. Each of you is perfect the way you are … and you can use a little improvement. In your everyday life, you always have a chance to have enlightenment. Everything is a teaching for us: the colour of a mountain, the sound of a river…each one is a teaching of the Buddha. Always have a new, fresh experience of your true self, here and now.”
Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

Today, Saturday 24th October 2025 at 11am Belfast time (12 noon in Germany, France, and Slovenia, 1pm in Greece and Esto...
25/10/2025

Today, Saturday 24th October 2025 at 11am Belfast time (12 noon in Germany, France, and Slovenia, 1pm in Greece and Estonia) we’ll meet for our on-line study group.

We’re reading Becoming Yourself: Teachings on the Zen Way of Life, the new collection of talks by Shunryu Suzuki.

This week, we’re going to read the chapter, “Don’t Try to Figure Out Who You Are  “, pages 25 and 26.

We’ll use the same link for zazen beforehand, 10 am to 11 am, if you’d like to join us for that, too.

Zoom link: 763 077 3412
Password: zendo

Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org for further information.
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This Saturday 24th October 2025 at 11am Belfast time (12 noon in Germany, France, and Slovenia, 1pm in Greece and Estoni...
24/10/2025

This Saturday 24th October 2025 at 11am Belfast time (12 noon in Germany, France, and Slovenia, 1pm in Greece and Estonia) we’ll meet for our on-line study group.

We are reading Seeing One Thing Through by Sojun Mel Weitsman

This week, we’re going to read the chapter, “Don’t Try to Figure Out Who You Are  “, pages 25 and 26.

We’ll use the same link for zazen beforehand, 10 am to 11 am, if you’d like to join us for that, too.

Zoom link: 763 077 3412
Password: zendo

Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org for further information.
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We’re going to have an all-day sitting on Sunday, 12 October 2025, from 9 am to 6 pm Belfast time.You can also join us o...
19/09/2025

We’re going to have an all-day sitting on Sunday, 12 October 2025, from 9 am to 6 pm Belfast time.

You can also join us online (at our usual Zoom link). If you’re planning on being here in person please let us know as we’ll be preparing lunch – food will be vegetarian and gluten-free. 

As always, this is a free event, and your donations are gladly accepted. Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org to sign up.

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On Sunday, September 7, Mary Price became the first Zen priest to be ordained in Northern Ireland by our teacher, Paul H...
09/09/2025

On Sunday, September 7, Mary Price became the first Zen priest to be ordained in Northern Ireland by our teacher, Paul Haller. Her name is Um Mon Yu Do (Cloud Gate Fearless Way), and we are delighted to welcome her as a new priest and deeply grateful for her practice.

We’re going to have an all-day sitting on Sunday, August 3, from 9 am to 6 pm Belfast time.You can also join us online (...
21/07/2025

We’re going to have an all-day sitting on Sunday, August 3, from 9 am to 6 pm Belfast time.
You can also join us online (at our usual Zoom link). If you’re planning on being here in person please let us know as we’ll be preparing lunch – food will be vegetarian and gluten-free. 
This offering is free and we welcome donations. Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org to sign up.
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This Saturday 21st June at 11am Belfast time (12 noon in Germany, France, and Slovenia, 1pm in Greece and Estonia) we’ll...
19/06/2025

This Saturday 21st June at 11am Belfast time (12 noon in Germany, France, and Slovenia, 1pm in Greece and Estonia) we’ll meet for our on-line study group.

We are reading Seeing One Thing Through by Sojun Mel Weitsman. This week, we’re going to read the short chapter “Zazen in Daily Life”, pages 245 and 246. 

We’ll use the same link for zazen beforehand, 10 am to 11 am, if you’d like to join us for that, too.

Zoom link: 763 077 3412
Password: zendo

Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org for further information.
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We’re going to have an all-day sitting on Sunday, June 22, from 9 am to 6 pm Belfast time, to celebrate the solstice.The...
23/05/2025

We’re going to have an all-day sitting on Sunday, June 22, from 9 am to 6 pm Belfast time, to celebrate the solstice.

The schedule is on the website, if you click through, and I’ve also attached a PDF. We’ll be doing a little yoga and stretching after the first period in the afternoon, so please dress with that in mind. We’ll be eating lunch in traditional oryoki style, with three bowls, so please let us know if you’re coming in person. You can also join us online on our usual Zoom link.

We’ll have another all-day sitting on Sunday, August 3, and our sesshin September 2-7, still has some places available.

Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org for further information.
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Some images from our recent Jukai ceremony led by Black Mountain resident priest Myogan Djinn Gallagher.~Pictured L-R ar...
07/05/2025

Some images from our recent Jukai ceremony led by Black Mountain resident priest Myogan Djinn Gallagher.
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Pictured L-R are guiding teacher Ryushin Paul Haller, Diana Rooney (new name Daian Myoshin; Great Ease, Luminous Heart), Bethina Nordahl (new name Monshin Myogetsu; Listening Heart, Wondrous Moon), Darren Kennedy (new name Yushin Jihei; Heroic Heart, Warrior for Peace) and Myogan Djinn Gallagher.

Our guiding teacher Paul Haller will be offering two workshops during his visit to Belfast this month, on Saturday, 26th...
04/04/2025

Our guiding teacher Paul Haller will be offering two workshops during his visit to Belfast this month, on Saturday, 26th April 2025.

Equanimity in the Midst of Turmoil, from 10am to 12:30pm and Practising with Emotions, from 2pm to 4:30pm.

We hope to see you at one or both of these precious opportunities to learn from one of the great dharma teachers of our time. 

Contact info@bmzcbelfast.org for further information.
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04/04/2025

Led by Ryushin Paul Haller Emotional responses to our experience are indicative of the impact of that event. They may originate internally or external. Their intensity underscores the psychological significance we associate with the experience. Often, in our attempts to practise “properly”, we t...

04/04/2025

Led by Ryushin Paul Haller It’s not that equanimity ensures a life of serenity, but rather that it enables a resilient willingness to work with whatever arises. There is a teaching in early Buddhism that lays out a seven-fold path to equanimity. That’s what we’ll explore in this workshop. Each...

This autumn, we’ll be returning to Tobar Mhuire for our September five-day sesshin with our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller....
13/03/2025

This autumn, we’ll be returning to Tobar Mhuire for our September five-day sesshin with our teacher Ryushin Paul Haller. Tuesday 2nd September to Sunday 7th September 2025.

If you would like to join us for this precious opportunity, please let us know.

Email info@bmzcbelfast.org

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Address

165 Donegall Pass
Belfast
BT71DT

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 8am
Tuesday 7am - 8:30am
Wednesday 7am - 8am
7:15pm - 8:45pm
Thursday 7am - 8am
Friday 7am - 8am
Saturday 10am - 12pm
Sunday 10am - 12pm

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