YEAR AT A GLANCE – 2026

Board Meeting

Click here to learn how to join us.

Zazenkai – All-Day Retreat

Retreat is an essential part of realizing the truth of Zen for yourself. Our Zazenkai encompasses an entire day, just like a day of sesshin (a longer residential retreat) and includes zazen, chanting, silent work practice, formal oryoki meals, rest, and sanzen with the teacher. Click here for more information.

Nehan Ceremony

Our annual Nehan ceremony commemorates the death of Shakyamuni Buddha. This simple but moving ritual symbolizes how the Dharma is passed on, and isn’t dependent on the presence of any one individual – even the Buddha! Click here for more information.

“Sharing In Sangha” Open Mic Night

Sangha members will gather (Dirt+Cloud Zendo) to get to know one another better (and have fun!) by sharing in expressive or creative ways – playing or singing music, reciting poetry, telling a story or jokes, acting out a scene, or offering a “show & tell” that shares something created, a special skill, one’s home, or photos from a recent trip or event. Click here for more information.

Dharma Cloud Day

More information coming soon!

Spring Term Student Program Begins ~ Opening Retreat

Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.

Annual Precept Study Series Begins

Every year, we study the Bodhisattva Precepts. Please join us! This series occurs every Tuesday (except for sesshin, on April 22nd) between March 4th and our June 1st Jukai ceremony (13 classes total) and is led by Sangha members who have received Jukai. Click here for more information.

Spring Practice Intensive Group Begins

Practice Intensive Groups meet regularly with Domyo, online, over the course of a 5-month term. Each term there is a course of study/practice created by Domyo, including assigned reading and activities. PIGs are for active BWZ members who have received Jukai and participated in at least one Term Student Program. Learn more here.

One-Day Retreat with Mondo

Our One-Day retreats are a wonderful way to deepen connection with Sangha and settle into stillness. At the end of the retreat, we do mondo practice (a formal question-and-answer ceremony based on a Dharma text). Click here for more information.

Wesak Ceremony

Wesak (pronounced Vay-sock) is celebrated all over the world, in all forms of Buddhism, and commemorates the birth of Shakyamuni Buddha. All are welcome to join the ceremony; its beauty of this ceremony is greatly enhanced by the participation of children and the presence of bountiful flowers! Click here for more information.

BWZ Sesshin

Sesshin – a multi-day, residential, full-time silent meditation retreat – is a challenging but profound experience. Consider joining us! We will be renting a beautiful out-of-town facility with accomodations and a kitchen. Click here for more information.

Spring Term Student Program Ends ~ Closing Retreat

Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.

Jukai Ceremony ~ Formally Becoming a Zen Buddhist

Every year, we gather to witness people “receiving” the Bodhisattva Precepts and formally becoming a Zen Buddhist. If you are interested in doing this, click here for more information.

Zazenkai – All-Day Retreat

Retreat is an essential part of realizing the truth of Zen for yourself. Our Zazenkai encompasses an entire day, just like a day of sesshin (a longer residential retreat) and includes zazen, chanting, silent work practice, formal oryoki meals, rest, and sanzen with the teacher. Click here for more information.

Board Meeting

Click here to learn how to join us.

Annual Sangha Picnic

Join us for a Sangha Picnic at Cedar Hills park! We’ll meet near the parking lot off Cedar Hills Blvd, under the big Douglas fir trees. Click HERE to learn more about see suggestions about what to bring!

Sangha Voices Series

In August, our teacher Domyo takes a sabbatical and our Tuesday classes and Sunday talks are led by Sangha members! This is a wonderful opportunity for Sangha members to get to know one another better, and to hear the Dharma expressed in many different voices. Stay tuned for a schedule of classes/discussion topics/talks, and consider volunteering to offer something yourself if you have been a member of Bright Way for a year or more.

After a lighter schedule of practice in July and August, we inaugurate our practice year (September through June) by coming together for a day of retreat. This will be a quiet day of chanting, zazen, silent work, a formal meal, an opening ceremony, and a council circle to close the day. Click here for more information.

Fall Term Student Program Begins ~ Opening Retreat

Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.

Founder’s Ceremony

This ceremony honors our temple founder, Rev. Kyogen Carlson, and his teacher Roshi Jiyu Kennett, around the anniversary of their deaths. Click here for more information.

Continuous Practice Retreat

We will hold a Continuous Practice Retreat from Wednesday through Saturday in our Cloud Zendo and our (home) Dirt Zendo.We practice together in the Cloud Zendo in the mornings and evenings, and add the option of Dirt Zendo participation for the midday and afternoon parts of the retreat. The idea is that, as a Sangha, we keep a thread of continuous practice going all the way between our regular Tuesday meeting and our Sunday meeting, no matter what we are doing.Click here to learn more.

Fall/Winter Practice Intensive Group Begins

Practice Intensive Groups meet regularly with Domyo, online, over the course of a 5-month term. Each term there is a course of study/practice created by Domyo, including assigned reading and activities. PIGs are for active BWZ members who have received Jukai and participated in at least one Term Student Program. Learn more here.

Board Meeting

Click here to learn how to join us.

Sejiki Ceremony

Sejiki is our annual Soto Zen “Festival of the Hungry Ghosts.” We make offerings to the manifestations of unresolved karma in the world, and also remember people who have recently passed away. Click here for more information.

Annual Member’s Meeting

Please attend Bright Way Zen’s Annual Member’s Meeting! While the title of the meeting refers to “members,” all are welcome to attend. The purpose of this meeting is to create an opportunity for everyone to hear an update from the Board of Directors regarding various topics of interest and to discuss questions and ideas from all attendees. Click here for more information.

Annual Fundraiser

Bright Way Zen relies on its annual fundraiser to keep offering access to the three treasures of Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha! Board members look forward to their annual conversations with all participants and supporters of BWZ.

Rohatsu Sesshin

Bright Way Zen does not hold its own Rohatsu sesshin at this time, but members are strongly encouraged to participate with another Sangha. Rohatsu is the deepest, quietest sesshin of the year, and it’s practiced by Zen communities all over the world in early December. Domyo attends the sesshin at Great Vow; to join her, stay tuned for information on their Rohatsu by clicking here.

Fall Term Student Program Ends ~ Closing Retreat

Registered term students only. The Term Student program is 2-3 months long, and is designed to help you intensify practice for a specific period of time, and to create stronger sangha connections. Click here for more information.

Holiday Break

Bright Way is on holiday break between Christmas and New Year’s, but there are usually a few practice events you can tune into during the break.