Chicago Zen Buddhist Temple

Today's Chicago Zen Buddhist Temple building began in 1915 as a Freemason's temple, so as a structure it has come full circle. It's a temple once again. Purchased in 1992 as a rundown Pentecostal church, it took two years of almost-entirely volunteer labor to become the modern building it is. Read more about the early history.

Now the temple provides:

1. Public services and meditation courses

2. A community for fellowship and support

3. A seminary, monastery and training center

Public services are Sundays at 10 am ($10 suggested donation), plus monthly courses and events. Children's Service is held the first Sunday of each month at 10 am. We observe a longer meditation service Wednesdays at 6:30 pm. We have a full schedule of daily and weekly practice, train students and members, and seasonal meetings for the community.

Temple Fundraising 2024

“...Nowhere will I not manifest myself in all the ten directions, and far and wide help all beings to enter Nirvana...” Morning Prayer, Naong Sunim’s Resolutions

Dear sangha members, dharma friends, and temple families,

This week Comet A3, first seen by Purple Mountain Observatory and on an 80,000 year journey from the distant Oort Cloud, was visible in the western sky at sunset as it passed near the sun and earth. Its glowing pinpoint head and majestic shimmering tail 18 million miles long remind us of the cycles of the universe and our true nature in harmony with the ebb and flow of ever-present Buddha Mind. I trust the Zen Buddhist Temple and your meditation and concentration practice are a refuge for you in a world that presents constant change.

Fall Fundraiser is the time of year we come to the temple community with begging bowl in hand, asking you to be generous in sustaining the temple’s vital Dharma work. The past year has been an invigorating and exciting one at the temple, with our Buddhist Society-wide intensive meditation retreat and seminary meetings in July, and the completion of the renovation project of the temple apartment, which now houses full-time Dharma Teacher Tana (Thom Vacca) and his family Alex, Dharani, and dog Rufus. Tana has expanded our temple programs to include regular Introductory Meditation Courses, meditation retreats, and Korean Calligraphy class. We continue offering Children’s Services, our dharma training programs (Dharma Worker, Dharma Guardian, and Maitreya Buddhist Seminary) for those who want a structured and guided curriculum in Buddhist practice and study, and a residency program for those who want to live in the community and take part in its daily practices.

This year, we are raising funds to replace our roof! Our roof was installed during the temple’s original renovation in 1993, and many layers and patches were added over the decades as cracks and holes formed in the 30+ years since. With water now leaking into our Buddha Hall and threatening damage to other areas of the temple, it is past time to remove the built up layers, repair the wooden deck at its base, and fully install a new roof surface. We are investigating the possibility of installing a green roof, which would improve the heating and cooling in the temple, reduce the heat island effect in urban Chicago, and may be supportable in part with local grants. With winter close at hand, we will be embarking on the roof replacement project in the spring and summer, supported by funds we raise during this Fall Fundraiser. Our goal is to raise $15,000. You may donate by clicking the link below, or by calling the temple at 773-528-8685 or emailing at chicago@zenbuddhisttemple.org.

Please help strengthen your place of practice and share the timeless teachings of Buddhism for the sake of our world profoundly in need of wisdom and compassion. Donations of any amount are welcome and are tax-deductible. Thank you for your kind consideration and continued support. May we each become the living embodiment of peace and happiness!

Donate to the Fundraiser here

In the dharma,

Kohye (Jeff Boland)

Dharma Teacher and Temple Director