Houston Zen Center is a place to practice meditation in the Zen tradition. Houston Zen Community members come from all walks of life. The Center offers daily meditation, classes on Buddhism, including Introduction to Meditation as well as advanced classes, workshops, meditation retreats, and frequent dharma talks. The Center's schedule of meditation is posted and is open to everyone. Our resident teacher offers regular dharma talks and meditation instruction. Senior members of the center also give talks and teach classes. In addition, we sponsor visiting Zen teachers, scholars and artists to come to Houston to teach. While meditation is open to everyone, members of HZC are those who are committed to making monthly contributions to support the Center. Members also volunteer in various capacities and vote to approve the Board of Directors. We are led by the Board of Directors and our Resident Teacher, Gaelyn Godwin. ZEN Setsuan Gaelyn Godwin, our resident teacher is ordained in the lineage of Soto Zen, the largest Japanese Zen lineage, and Houston Zen Center practices follow the Soto Zen formal practices. The Vietnamese Zen teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh is the primary teacher for some original members of Houston Zen Community. Zen emphasizes meditation ( zazen ) along with service in the world, chanting, study, and formal interviews with the teacher. Zen meditation is characterized by attention to the nature of mind, to its undivided activity. Focus is often on the breath, or on activities of the mind. Work practice, including working to care for the temple, working at home and working at a job, are all part of Zen study and practice. "When you become you, Zen becomes Zen. When you are you, you see things as they are, and you become one with your surroundings."