Blue Plum Zendo

02/14/2026

February 15 Tea & Art Practice
4:30pm - 7:00pm

Informal Tea Ceremony practice with Kiho in the Urasenke style, followed by an art practice session. For those who are new to meditation practice, Tea Ceremony can be a path to entering the larger universe of zen and its arts by offering an incisive opportunity to express the mind of zen in everyday activity. After some Tea, we’ll transition into art making where zen art practice prompts will be shared and explored in a variety of mediums. No experience necessary!

Matcha green tea will be served along with tea sweets. Art supplies will be provided, but feel free to bring you own. Please register to help us plan, however drop ins are welcome at any point in the evening.

Suggested donation $5-10

02/04/2026

Winter Art Practice: The Eyes that Listen, the Ears that See with Hojin Sensei (Online)

This Friday morning, February 6th, Hojin Sensei will continue with Winter Art Practice: The Eyes that Listen, the Ears that See. This time together is an invitation to slow down, deepen attention, and recover forms of presence that contemporary life often erodes.

February 6th, 2026
10:30 am - 12 pm ET

Learn More >>
www.bit.ly/4ke3qga

01/21/2026

We offer boundless gratitude to Shugen Roshi for his visit to the Blue Plum Zendo this past weekend, and to all the community members who came to take part in the gathering. At a time of so much suffering in our world - Roshi offered us the light of the Dharma - sharing teachings, consecrating our Buddha image and in extension our practice space, as well as answering the Sangha’s questions about life and practice. We recognize and honor this precious gift that we have received. Thank you, Shugen, for your support and guidance as we build this sacred refuge together!

01/06/2026

Please join us on Sunday, January 18th for an eye opening ceremony to consecrate our Buddha image, followed by a Dharma Talk with Geoffrey Shugen Arnold Roshi.

Shugen Roshi is the Abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery in the Catskill Mountains of NY, and is the Head of the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism. Shugen entered full-time residential training in 1986 after studying mathematics and receiving a degree in classical music. He received dharma transmission from John Daido Loori, Roshi in 1997. Originally from Atlanta, GA, he moved with his family to western NC when he was young. We are looking forward to this auspicious homecoming here in our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains.

A suggested donation of $5 - $20 is appreciated. Register at studiohum.org/programs

01/01/2026

Happy new year! May it be clear and bright!

New year fresh foyer - shelf and artwork in our center’s entry hall. This aged and rough sawn cherry board was salvaged from a 100 year old tree on our land out in Unicoi. Artwork was a gift from monastic Yukon just before his passing. Hanging Tea Ceremony vase found in Kinosaki on our honeymoon to Japan. Incense bowl made by your’s truly during a clay retreat with Hojin Sensei. A narcissus from my mother, and a mountain laurel from the mountain. It’s all coming together 🙏🏻

12/24/2025

Happy holidays ✨ happy new year!

12/05/2025

Learn more about the events over Buddha’s Enlightenment Weekend at 108 W 10th Ave. this weekend Dec 6 & 7 in our latest newsletter ✨ + Tea Ceremony with Atsumi Soatsu Matsuda Dec 20 🍵🧘

We noticed a typo in the previously issued Buddha’s Enlightenment Weekend Flyer. The Open Sky All Day Sit starts at 9am, not 10am. Sorry for the confusion! The corrected flyer with the schedule for the day is below.

11/30/2025

Please join our whole building at 108 W. 10th Ave. in celebration of Bodhi Day (the Buddha’s Enlightenment) next weekend with these offerings:

We are so grateful to welcome Shugen Roshi into the Blue Plum Zendo for a special zoom Mondo (question & answer session) as part of the Buddha’s Enlightenment Weekend Saturday offering at Studio Hum!

In the Zen tradition, a mondo is a public question and answer session between a teacher or a senior student and a group of practitioners. These unique meetings allow us to share our questions about meditation, Zen Buddhism, or life in general out in the open so we can learn from and connect with each other. In this meeting with Roshi, we will discuss and explore the various forms of practice that have come down to us through the tradition, and how they take shape in our practice together in Johnson City.

Register at www.studiohum.org/programs
link in bio!

10/24/2025

Tomorrow!

ONE EARTH, ONE REFUGE
PUBLIC MEDITATION
Saturday October 25
9am - noon at Founders Park in Johnson City

Dedicated to cultivating wisdom, connection, and compassionate action
Join local organizations and individuals as we sit in harmony with each other and with nature in the midst of ecological and social crises, to transform our suffering and extend loving-kindness to all beings. Please come for as long or as little as you like. BYO style of meditation.

Bring a blanket, a cushion, and a hat.

10/21/2025

Zazen Beginning Instruction Online
November 2, 2025, 9:00 am est

Led by Mountain and Rivers Order senior student Chris Yudo Abraham

Learn how to sit zazen and establish a personalized practice space of your own. There will be plenty of time for questions. Join afterwards on Livestream.com/MRO for the Teisho (Dharma Talk) at 11 am.

Please plan to sign on promptly by 9:00 am.

Learn more and register here: https://zmm.org/our-programs-2/4397/beginning-instruction-online

Your registration confirmation will include a link to the Zoom session.

Our online programs are offered by donation so that everyone can participate. We appreciate your support.

For more information on How to Meditate, see our online instructions: https://zmm.org/teachings-and-training/meditation-instructions

10/18/2025

https://rubinmuseum.org/one-refuge-one-planet/

Paying homage to Yum Chenmo by Dekila Chungyalpa. Explore the Interdependence issue of Spiral magazine from the Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art.