Welcome to the Iowa City Zen Center

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

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

Upcoming Events
___________________________

Sunday, 12 April
Meditation & Dharma Talk / Q&A (Virtual)
with Guiding Teacher Rev. Daiken Nelson Roshi via Zoom
In-Person: 1025 Fairchild
On-line via Zoom
9:00-11:00 (CDT) / 10:00-Noon (EDT) / 07:00-09:00 (PDT)

All are Welcome

OUR WEEKLY MEDITATION SCHEDULE

Monday through Friday Morning: 07:00a – 08:00a— In-Person Meditation

Monday Evening: 7:00p – 8:15p— Sitting with Impermanence  
In collaboration with the Death Collective of Eastern Iowa.
Short period of sitting, a reading offered with discussion.  Informal.

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

Wednesday Evening: 7:00p to 8:00p — ICZC Reading Group
In-Person

Sunday Morning: Zazen at 09:00a
Beginning Meditation Instruction at 08:30a
Sunday Dharma Talks follow our regular 9:00 am Zazen Meditation
10:00a— 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: April 13 – April 26, 2026
∞
See the Photo Gallery above for images from previous events

SPRING INTENSIVE w/ Roshi Daiken
April 13 – April 26

REGULAR MORNING MEDITATIONS & SERVICE
MONDAY – FRIDAY — 07:00am – 08:00am

MONDAY, APRIL 13 — PAMSULA ZEN CENTER GATHERING
Zazen / Discussion
5:00pm–6:30pm

MONDAY, APRIL 13 — SITTING WITH IMPERMANENCE  
7:00 – 8:15pm

TUESDAY, APRIL 14  — EVENING ZAZEN
7:00pm–8:00pm
Beginning Instruction – 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 15 — READING AND DISCUSSION GROUP
7:00 – 8:15pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 — WORKSHOP:
EXPLORING THE BODHISATTVA PRECEPTS
Looking at the Bodhisattva Precepts as a Guide for our Practice & our Life
7:00pm – 8:30pm

FRIDAY, APRIL 17 — BACK-YARD POTLUCK
Small Bites. Outside (Weather Permitting) 
Bring anything vegetarian
6:00pm – 8:00pm

SATURDAY, APRIL 18 — WORK PRACTICE
ICZC Spring Spruce Up
10:30am – Noon

SUNDAY, APRIL 19 — SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM
Zazen & Service
09:00 am – 10am
10:00am –DHARMA TALK

MONDAY, APRIL 20 — PAMSULA ZEN CENTER GATHERING
Zazen / Discussion
5:00pm–6:30pm

MONDAY, APRIL 13 — SITTING WITH IMPERMANENCE  
7:00pm – 8:15pm 

TUESDAY, APRIL 21  — EVENING ZAZEN
7:00pm – 8:00pm
Beginning Instruction – 6:30pm

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22 — READING AND DISCUSSION GROUP
7:00 – 8:15 pm

THURSDAY, APRIL 23 — WORKSHOP:
THE FOUR NOBLE TRUTHS — THE GUIDE TO PRACTICE
Looking at the 4 Noble Truths as a way to see our conditioning
7:00pm – 8:30pm

SATURDAY ZAZENKAI
Half-Day Meditation Retreat 
APRIL 25, 7:15am – 2:45pm with 09:30am Dharma Talk
Come & go as you wish

SUNDAY, APRIL 26 — SUNDAY MORNING PROGRAM
Zazen & Service
09:00am – 10:00am
10:00am – OPEN SOZAN (Public Q&A)

SUNDAY, APRIL 26 — 1 DHARMA POTLUCK
Reno Park, 516 Reno
Small Bites. Outside (Weather Permitting: ICZC Rain Alt.)
Bring anything vegetarian

∞

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 based (donation)
— 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