Windhorse Zen Community

"We stayed overnight at Windhorse this weekend and were just delighted. Super comfortable, affordable lodging in a serene setting, and this morning's practice, along with an illuminating dharma talk (accompanied by herbal teas and a very welcoming and warm community of folx) left us with a lightness we will carry into the week. Can't wait to visit again! Thank you all ♥️"

"Great place to learn meditation and deepen Zen practice. "Authentic Zen" Koan school in an amazing setting overlooking vast mountain ranges. In 1997, it was suggested to me that everyone should try at least one Sesshin. An old tugboat Captain and Zen master friend said, "I looked into all the Zen centers in the US since the 60's and there are only a few with 'The Real Thing'. Rochester Zen Center is a good place to study." So, I became a member, studied, met Lawson and Sunya who went on to become the founders of Windhorse Zen Center in Asheville. I'm very grateful that Tugboat informed me about the difference between Living Zen and learning Zen. I say "Authentic Zen" above to start this google review because there is a lot of misleading info online about Zen meditation. A Japanese Zen School is going to be the most "Authentic Zen" school but the teaching itself remains authentic no matter where, when or who. Over the years, I've had some experience with a number of "teachers" that haven't had awakening experiences and have little insight into their own true nature. Yet they teach with great knowledge. Intellectual knowledge. Thinking won't cut it if you want the Zen of Dogen, Huang Po, Chou Chou, Bassui. "Life slips quickly by...Wake up! Wake up!" the saying goes. The truth is, there aren't a lot of Zen schools in the USA that are qualified to teach the Zen of the ancient masters. There are thousands of great places to meditate and learn but this very deep tradition of seeing into our True Nature and living from that place is quite sacred and rare. I have no idea how many have this deeper teaching but this intellectual vs experiential difference is essential for someone to assess that for themselves. WZC is great but not the only place. It doesn't have to be "Zen" either. It's not religious. However, there are definite advantages to 2500 years of experience being handed down. People should know this before deciding on a dharma community. To tap into our "Primal Energy", experience our full being and use that in life, requires teaching, practice and enlightenment. If that is what a person is after, they should know in advance if the Zen Center they are going to can provide that or not. Likewise, if Awakening is not what a person wants then they should know there are easier ways to meditate for temporary comforts or intellectual knowledge. The WZC teachers studied for decades with Roshi Philip Kapleau (Three Pillars of Zen) before being ordained and eventually sanctioned to teach by Kapleau. If you want to discover the deeper teachings of Zen and awaken to your True Nature, this is a beautiful place and community, and these are experienced, kind teachers to do it with. Windhorse isn't the only great Zen school in the US. The "best" place is different for each person's affinity but I wrote this because Tugboat helped me immensely over the years, pointing out in advance, that there are "Authentic Zen" centers and then there are great places that teach a more intellectual version. Learning about Zen is not Living Zen. There is nothing wrong with that, but let's not pretend there isn't a difference. If a person knows this in advance, they can make a more informed decision."

"In a time of uncertainty I appreciate teachers that have a global perspective of the Dharma and also a national & regional perspective maybe I don’t because I haven’t connected with any cohesive Dhrama community but want to"