Zen at UBC
Zen at UBC
We provide a space for Zen meditation for both newcomers and experienced practitioners. We offer instruction in meditation practice and an introduction to Zen Buddhism in general. The meditation program is designed for members of the UBC community — students, faculty, staff, and residents of the UBC area — and is directed by Gareth Sirotnik, Zen Buddhist Chaplain at UBC.
See our schedule for times. For the most up-to-date information, subscribe to our social media pages or ask to be added to our mailing list.
Our mandate is to serve the UBC Community only. If you are outside of UBC, there are a number of other organizations in Vancouver for you to explore your practice. Feel free to contact us if you need help to find a suitable group.
About Zen Buddhism
Zen practice contributes to the world by bringing harmony, compassion and ethical integrity into the lives of individuals and communities. Zen transforms how we live with one another and on the earth we share. In a university setting, Zen meditation can help students concentrate on their work and study, cope with the pressures of campus life, and better relate to the diversity of people they encounter daily.
Zen develops our potential as human beings by cultivating our innate wisdom. This is realized and actualized in meditation practice, and extends into everyday life. Zen emphasizes self-realization, which is realization of the true self, through a simple but concentrated practice of contemplation and actualization. Zen practice builds confidence in the self that is ever-changing and inherently interconnected to the world we live in.