Right Now, it’s exactly like this
— Ajahn Sumedho

Welcome to the Iowa City Zen Center

The Iowa City Zen Center is located at
1025 Fairchild Street in Iowa City, Iowa

Upcoming Events
___________________________

Upcoming Winter Intensive: Roshi Daiken’s Next In-Person Visit:
January 23 – February 1, 2026

FRIDAY — COMMUNITY POTLUCK
     Small Bites. Bring anything vegetarian.
Jan 23, 6pm–8:00pm

SATURDAY — LITURGY TRAINING
     Learn or brush up on keeping time & guiding Service 
Jan 24, 11:00am–12:30pm

SUNDAY PROGRAM
Zazen & Service
Jan 25, 09:00 am–10am
10:00am – Dharma Talk / Q&A

REGULAR MORNING MEDITATIONS & SERVICE
Monday – Friday — 07:00am–08:00am

MONDAY — PAMSULA ZEN CENTER GATHERING
Zazen / Discussion
Jan 26, 5:00pm–6:30pm

TUESDAY EVENING ZAZEN
Jan 27, 7:00pm–8:00pm
Beginning Instruction – 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY — READING GROUP
Jan 28, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

THURSDAY — WORKSHOP
The Sound of Silence — Deep Quiet in Noisy Times
Jan 29, 7:00pm – 8:30pm

FRIDAY — INFORMAL MEET & GREET W/ROSHI
Jan 30, 5:00pm –7:00pm

SATURDAY — ZAZENKAI 
 Half-Day Meditation Retreat 
Jan 31, 07:15am – 2:45pm with 09:30am Dharma Talk

SUNDAY PROGRAM
Zazen & Service
Feb 1, 09:00 am–10:00am
10:00am – Ryaku Fusatsu (Renewal of Vows Ceremony)

All Events at ICZC; most Online

All are Welcome

OUR WEEKLY MEDITATION SCHEDULE

Monday through Friday Morning: 07:00 a.m. to 08:00 a.m. — In-Person Meditation

Tuesday Evening: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm — In-Person Meditation Practice (Zazen)
Beginning Meditation Instruction at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday Evening: 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm — ICZC Reading Group
In-Person
Reading: Returning To Silence by Dainin Katagiri Roshi

Sunday Morning: Zazen at 09:00 am
Beginning Meditation Instruction at 08:30 am
Sunday Dharma Talks follow our regular 9:00 am Zazen Meditation
— 2nd & 4th Sundays

All Meditation sessions also accessible via ZOOM at

Link
Meeting ID: 837 6729 6520
Passcode: 415844

You may also find online Sittings and Services on M – F at 06:00 am and 7:30 p.m. hosted by ICZC practitioner David Shujō Thole HERE (Meeting ID: 976 5335 8448).

QUARTERLY VISITS:
Our Guiding Teacher, Roshi Daiken Nelson visits Iowa City 4 times/year
for extended visits & programming.
Next In-Person Visit: January 23 – February 1, 2026
∞
See the Photo Gallery above for images from previous events.

On January 29, 2024, Rev. Daiken Nelson Roshi
was installed as the Zen Center’s Guiding Teacher. 

Roshi Daiken’s bio is accessible above at Guiding Teacher
Video of Ceremony at Photo Gallery

BEGGING BOWL

The opportunity for Zen practice is made possible by
the support of many people.
All offerings are dana (donation) based
— with suggested free-will offering —
no one turned away for lack of resources.
We are boundlessly grateful to those who support our offerings.
These may be financial donations or in-kind donations or one’s time/labor. 

Please consider a tax-deductible donation to the Iowa City Zen Center
via our PayPal account: Link

Or mail a check to our Treasurer at ICZC
1025 Fairchild Street, IC, IA 52240

And, also, please consider helping out with our offerings:
Serving on Our Board of Directors
Or a Committee:
Buildings & Grounds; Practice;
Membership & Development

Or consider filling a role in the Practice realm:
Jikido (Timekeeper for Meditation)
Doan (Service Leader for Liturgy)
Beginning Meditation Instruction (Tuesday Evening & Sunday Morning)

Contact Us & Directions

Iowa City Zen Center welcomes All to Practice —
long-time practitioners, newbies & the curious.
We joyfully welcome Seekers and Students of all Paths into our gatherings.
∞
It is ICZC’s policy not to discriminate on the basis of anything in its programs or activities: race, creed, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, socioeconomic status, ability, age or religion