Cleveland Zazen Group

02/26/2026

Zazen is Awakening: Awakening is Zazen, as Master Huineng taught:

"Good friends, my teaching of the Dharma takes meditation and wisdom as its basis. Never under any circumstances
mistakenly say that meditation and wisdom are different; they are a unity, not two things. Meditation itself is the substance of wisdom; wisdom itself is the function of meditation. At the very moment when there is wisdom, then meditation exists in wisdom; at the very moment when there is meditation, then wisdom exists in meditation. Good friends, this means that meditation and wisdom are alike. Students, be
careful not to say that meditation gives rise to wisdom, or that wisdom gives rise to meditation, or that meditation and wisdom are different from each other. To hold this view implies that things have duality."- Huineng

Excerpt from The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch, trans. Philip B. Yampolsky
(New York: Columbia University Press, 1967)

Dajian Huineng or Hui-neng 638-713 CE, known as the Sixth Patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism,Bodhidharmaknown as First Chinese Patriarch and the 28th in direct line from Gautama Buddha.
According to tradition Huineng was an uneducated layman who suddenly attained awakening upon hearing the Diamond Sutra. Despite his lack of formal training, he demonstrated his understanding to the Fifth Patriarch, Damon Hongren, who then acknowledged Huineng as his true successor. -
Extracts: wikipedia

Huineng's Platform Sutra, 8th century text that teaches Zen, from the Mahayana Buddhism branch, has been heavily studied by zen practitioners.

02/20/2026

When doing Zazen,"not throwing away our shot" is noticing when our mind/focus wanders.

"Focused attention, sometimes called ‘orienting,’ refers to holding our attention on one object at a time. This is the aspect of awareness known in some Buddhist schools as "samatha"—one-pointed absorption in the object of meditation. In doing breath or koan practice during zazen, we want to keep our focus on that alone.
Step One of living in the present, then, is noticing when the mind has wandered. But now here’s the tricky thing: we can’t notice until we notice. Fortunately, though, noticing is also something we do get better at over time.The 12th-century Korean Zen master Chinul, one of the seminal ancestors of our tradition, offered advice that is valuable for any stage of practice: ‘Do not fear the arising of thoughts, only be concerned that your awareness of them not be tardy.’ The key thing is to notice them without getting involved in them. That little space right there, between the noticing that there are thoughts, before getting involved in the thoughts, is where we have our best shot at bringing ourselves back to our practice—that is, back to the present."

"The word ‘Buddha’ means enlightened awareness, and we are all equally endowed with this Buddha-nature. It just takes daily practice—and lots of perseverance—to actualize it."

Edited transcription of teisho,
Focuser, Noticer, Juggler, Spy
By Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede, printed in
Zen Bow: Attention vol ###II no. 4, 2009-10 RCZpublication

02/15/2026

"Doing zazen is Buddha.
Doing zazen is already the full expression of Buddha nature."

"That which we most deeply yearn for is the thing that is already most fully present, already the very closest to us. Thus our ancestral teachers, according to their own circumstances at hand, have always shown that Buddha is now, here. So we place our focus now, here. While what you seek is really now and here, you habitually think of it as somewhere out there, outside yourself, so you search and search in vain. What you are looking for is already wholly and completely yours. There is nothing miserly about it; it knows no limits. You are the master of this life. When you sincerely take refuge now and here, you will find yourself in what is most secure, in that which the heart most ardently yearns for: in pure, essential Buddha nature."

Excerpts: AWAKEN TO THE TRUE SELF"
By Harada Tangen Roshi | Zen Bow | Summer 2018, Vol. XL, No. 2

A brief biography:

A brief biography, description of the training at Bukkokuji Temple, and personal memories of Harada Tangen Roshi (Zen Master) by Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede

02/10/2026

Intro/Refresher to Zen Meditation Practice:
Do you wonder...
What is Zen Buddhism, meditation and what can it mean to your Life?
Welcome, Saturday,
Feb 14 1:30-3:30 pm.
To register, call or text Susan at 216-630-3583.

Warmth, Health and Peace to you all🙏🏼

Cleveland Zazen Group
Susan Rakow is the Group Leader of the Cleveland Zazen Group. She was born in New York in 1949. She was a secondary English/Gifted teacher and university professor of education for 40 years before becoming a licensed mental health counselor (LPCC).

Susan began practicing Zen in 1968 under her root teacher, Roshi Philip Kapleau. Since then she has been maintaining a daily personal practice. She regularly attends group sittings and sesshin, and works closely with her current teacher, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.

Susan has been the group leader for the Cleveland Zazen Group for about 35 years. In 2004, she was invested as a member of the Three Jewels Order of the Rochester Zen Center. She has conducted weddings, funerals, all-day sittings and facilitated other ceremonies for the Cleveland Zazen Group and its sangha members. In addition, she facilitates RZC’s monthly Parent Practice group on Zoom.

Susan feels grateful to serve Zen sanghas (communities) in Cleveland, OH and Rochester, NY … and the Dharma wherever her life experiences take her.
*photo & bio credit
Rochester Zen Center

02/06/2026

Venerable Monks, Walking for Peace, invite Sangha🙏🏼🌎🙏🏼

🙏 Invitation to All Venerable Monks and Nuns to Join Us in Washington DC (February 10-11, 2026)

Please note: Everyone is warmly invited to join us during these two days of different events in Washington, DC. We already posted the schedule, which is pinned at top of our page. We especially invite venerable monks and nuns to register through the sign-up form below so we can properly prepare and coordinate for the gathering of monastics.

——————-

With deep respect and warm hearts, we extend a sincere invitation to all venerable monks and nuns from all traditions to join us at our peace gathering and events in Washington, DC, on February 10 and 11, 2026.

As we approach the destination of this 2,300-mile journey for peace, we would be profoundly honored to welcome monastics from all Buddhist traditions to walk and gather with us in our nation’s capital. This is a precious opportunity for everyone to come together in the spirit of unity, compassion, and shared purpose.

🙏 Meeting Point Details (For Venerable Monks & Nuns Only):

After submitting the registration form, venerable monks and nuns are warmly invited to join us at the following meeting points:

* Tuesday, February 10 (Day 108):
Location: National United Methodist Church
Arrival Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

* Wednesday, February 11 (Day 109):
Location: St. Mark’s Capitol Hill Church
Arrival Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

For any questions:
📱 Please text: 214-404-6711

To sign up to join: Please register using the form in the COMMENT SECTION below.

We welcome all monastics with open hearts and look forward to walking and gathering together in the spirit of peace, harmony, and unity.

May everyone and all beings be well, happy and at peace. 🙏✨

02/03/2026

"Enlightenment is like the moon reflected on the water.
The moon does not get wet, nor is the water broken.
Although its light is wide and great,
The moon is reflected even in a puddle an inch wide.
The whole moon and the entire sky
Are reflected in one dewdrop on the grass."
– Eihei Dōgen's poem from 'Genjokoan, Actualizing the Fundamental Point'
written in 1233.

Zen meditation, Zazen calms the Mind, like water, then like the Moon, All is reflected.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

02/01/2026

Happy Groundhog Day, in the Buddhist way... Zazen fulfilling our True Nature 🥰
Groundhog Day, the movie: is not about prognosticating Spring. It's a story of Self discovery and the value/gift of each new day.
Before practicing Zen, we see our's and others' suffering, thinking we will wake each day to the same 'ol state of discontent. However, in the movie, Groundhog Day, we see a grumpy man who learns that the same day is really his opportunity to engage in new thoughts, attitudes and actions to learn to grow in all ways that enhance and fulfill Buddhas'/ours', True Nature, zazen, living an enlightening life, one moment, one sitting, each new day at a time.

As Roshi Philip Kapleau says about vow taking, the Precepts (and using the guidelines of Buddhas's Noble Eightfold Path): we then are the *"expression of the free functioning of our Buddha-nature, that formless Self, beyond all dualisms of good and evil, ugly and beautiful. In short, the precepts are another name for the highest Truth of Oneness underlying all relations. Listen to what Zen Master Dogen says:
"By accepting and upholding the precepts in your deepest heart
you can eventually attain to supreme enlightenment."
🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

*Zen Bow, Spring 1976
vol 9 no.2
Dharma Talk on the Precepts
Given by Roshi Kapleau April 4, 1976

01/29/2026

"Many of you have heard this analogy before about Zen practice being like a snow globe, that we come to practice with the snow all swirling, swirling our monkey mind, filled with thoughts, emotions, reactions, swirling, no rest at all. And as we settle into this practice, the snow begins to settle, our mind becomes clear, more spacious."

"As the snow settles further, we get to see the scenery inside that snow globe. We see what we're made of, our strengths, our weaknesses, our patterns, habits. The snow settles further, something even deeper can emerge." ...
"There's no mistake.
There's nothing wrong.
This is Insight!"

Zazen reveals, zazen heals, some things of discomfort, old wounds... and intuitive True Nature, this is good and Way finding.

Venerable Sensei
Jissai Prince -Cherry
Louisville Zen Center
Excerpt: Teisho Dec 07, 2025 Rochester Zen Center
NO MAP: FINDING OUR WAY IN ZEN PRACTICE

https://otter.ai/u/NwMttzXm7GC0VUlRu2u-P_jYwjc?utm_source=copy_url&tab=chat&view=summary

* Snow Globe photo, Buddha Weekly: Buddhist Practices, Mindfulness, Meditation https://share.google/0ho36kq21X1KiDN6G

01/22/2026

*Due to the extreme cold and predicted snowstorm, there will be no Intro/Refresher on Saturday Jan. 24

Do you wonder...
What is Zen Buddhism, meditation and what can it mean to your Life?

You are welcome to an Intro and/or Refresher: though we are canceling tomorrow's 01.24, due to inclimate weather. If you're interested in attending an Intro, please call or email Susan, at 216-630-3583
clevezen@gmail.com or check the web page- calendar or follow on FB. Warmth, Health and Peace to you all🙏🏼

Cleveland Zazen Group
Susan Rakow is the Group Leader of the Cleveland Zazen Group. She was born in New York in 1949. She was a secondary English/Gifted teacher and university professor of education for 40 years before becoming a licensed mental health counselor (LPCC).

Susan began practicing Zen in 1968 under her root teacher, Roshi Philip Kapleau. Since then she has been maintaining a daily personal practice. She regularly attends group sittings and sesshin, and works closely with her current teacher, Roshi Bodhin Kjolhede.

Susan has been the group leader for the Cleveland Zazen Group for about 35 years. In 2004, she was invested as a member of the Three Jewels Order of the Rochester Zen Center. She has conducted weddings, funerals, all-day sittings and facilitated other ceremonies for the Cleveland Zazen Group and its sangha members. In addition, she facilitates RZC’s monthly Parent Practice group on Zoom.

Susan feels grateful to serve Zen sanghas (communities) in Cleveland, OH and Rochester, NY … and the Dharma wherever her life experiences take her.
*photo & bio credit
Rochester Zen Center

01/15/2026

"The first aim of sitting is to unify the mind. For the average person whose mind is being pulled in many directions, sustained concentration is virtually impossible. Through the practice of zazen, the mind becomes one pointed so that it can be controlled."
-Hakuin Yasutani Roshi*
Sensei Jissai Prince-Cherry spoke: Now, a word that means more to me than control is "directed". So it (the mind) can be directed ... in my neighborhood, there is an elementary school, and during lunch, I'll go for a walk, and in the big school yard, there will be all of these elementary school children running around. There may be a group racing each other, another group playing skipping rope, another group playing kickball, all these kids multiple classes intermingling with each other in this big schoolyard, and at a signal from a teacher, students will gather around the teacher, and the teacher will line them up, make sure everybody's there, and they will walk back into the school building in single file, moving as One unit, focused unified when they're all running pell mell in the school yard, there's no focus there. It's once they're gathered together, then they can be aimed, focused into the school building. That's really what we're doing in zazen, unifying the mind so we can focus it.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
-Venerable Jissai Prince Cherry
excerpt from Dharma talk 22 Feb 2025, "Tips for working on Koans" -see comments

* Quote from Three Pillars of Zen, Teaching Practice and Enlightenment - book by Roshi Philip Kapleau
cr: 1965,1968 Roshi Philip Kaoleau.
cr: 1980 The Zen Center, inc
Pub: Anchor Books
*photo from Rochester Zen Center

01/09/2026

"There is something urging you to look deeper, something which seeks to be known. Don’t you see it yet? Isn’t it clear yet? You are sitting here because you cannot help but seek truth. The genuine seeks to know itself. Truth is seeking truth. That is why you are here, putting your heart and soul into meditation. Your time of awakening will come."

Excerpt from article:
"The Depth of Truth is Bottomless" by Harada Tangen Roshi
Published in online magazine, Buddha Now, 23 March 2018

*photo from Rochester Zen Center
*Roshi Philip Kapleau was a Western student of Harada Roshi at both Hosshinji Monastery and Bukkoku-ji Temple.