Best Zen Meditation Centers In Houston Near Me

4worldlovers:
Each week we will look at a different story that Buddha shared and find the inspiration we need for our own growth and change.


Happiness is a universal human desire. The Buddhist path offers a unique perspective on how to achieve lasting happiness.


In this public talk we will look at how meditation can lead on us on a path towards healing and can nurture more harmonious relationships.


This class will focus on practical techniques for developing concentration, mindfulness, and wisdom, and will provide a supportive environment for beginners and experienced meditators alike.

The practice of timeless Buddhist wisdom in the heart of Houston. Buddha’s most profound insight into the nature of the mind remains as revolutionary in our modern world as it was 2,500 years ago: the mind is the source of all happiness and suffering, all of it.

4worldlovers: Houston Zen Center is an urban refuge for the study and practice of Zen meditation in the heart of Houston. Auspicious Cloud Retreat Center is a rural refuge one hour West of Houston for more intensive study and practice of Zen. Retreat space for compatible groups is available throughout the year.

The Abbot, Senior Teachers and members of the Center offer classes and retreats throughout the year for beginners and advanced meditators. The center offers traditional Zen practice, as well as teachings on mindfulness, gardening and Tai Chi. The Center’s members come from all walks of life and all faith traditions. The Center has re-opened for in-person events, for fully vaccinated participants. You are also welcome to join Zazen and the weekend program via the remote links in the Zoom Zendo. This is an important time of practice, and this Center is following the guidelines for safely practicing together in person. Please explore the links for zoom on the Zoom Zendo page.

If you are new to Zen or meditation, and you are fully vaccinated, you are welcome to attend the one-hour introduction to Zen meditation from 6:30 - 7:30 on the First Wednesday of each month. RSVP to Stephen. We will welcome up to 18 participants to the First Wednesday class.

Auspicious Cloud Retreat Center, formerly known as Margaret Austin Center, now a part of Houston Zen Center, provides retreats for Zen practitioners as well as compatible groups.

To find out more about the retreat center and our policies and opportunities for renting space, explore here.

Upcoming and recorded Dharma Talks. Houston Zen Center features dharma talks by the Abbot and Senior Teachers as well as prominent visiting Teachers. Recordings are available for download and podcasts.

The daily schedule of meditation at Houston Zen Center. Zazen periods, walking meditation and dharma events.

4worldlovers:
A short one hour program where students get step-by-step instructions in the purpose and basic skills of sitting meditation.

4worldlovers: Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien is an Awakened teacher and the founder of Universal Door Meditation Center in Houston, TX in 2003.

Zen Master's wisdom-opening teachings and interactive guidance are very dynamic, spontaneous, and lively, easily engaging listeners, no matter their level of practice.

Her wisdom-opening teachings, whether short or long, are always fresh, simple, and practical, but penetrate directly to the heart, helping people to break through, believe, and realize that they have the capacity to Wake Up.

From early childhood, Zen Master Thich Dieu Thien already had deep questions and doubt about the constant changes in life and the suffering of birth and death.

And at the same time, she also knew that there is a world where there is no suffering, no birth and death, only Awakened happiness and complete liberation. However, she did not know how to return and live in that world.

Her persistent questions about Awake were the powerful motivation to help her constantly seek answers; she spent many years studying and applying countless practice methods and searching for Awakened teachers, experiencing many hardships, with no regard for her life.

Finally, at the age of 30, hitting rock bottom of her inner search for True Self, like an explosion, the system of illusions shattered, Awake appeared, and from that moment she Awakened and lives Awake.

At that moment, Zen Master saw that everyone has the capacity to Wake Up, but they don't know because they believe in themselves so much and are addicted to their ego. Lost in that, they keep spinning in the darkness of ignorance, cannot see the truth, the nature of it, and therefore cannot return to Awake Mind.

4worldlovers: It’s a simple, natural technique practiced 20 minutes twice each day while sitting comfortably with the eyes closed.

Transcendental Meditation — brought to the West in 1959 by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi — is an ancient technique that's easy to learn and enjoyable to practice. It's not a religion, philosophy, or lifestyle. Over ten million people have learned it — people of all ages, cultures, and religions.

Have you ever tried to meditate, and found you couldn’t do it because your mind is too active — or maybe the technique was uncomfortable in some way?

It’s a common experience because almost all techniques involve some kind of control or focus.

This is what makes the TM technique completely different — it’s so easy and enjoyable that anyone can do it, even children with ADHD.

Interestingly, it’s effective because it’s completely effortless. The TM technique uses the natural tendency of the mind to automatically draw your attention inward, through quieter and quieter levels of thought, until you experience your own innermost nature — the most peaceful and silent level of your mind.

The TM technique's benefits start right away, and keep growing. Hundreds of independent research studies have found major increases in calmness, creativity, energy, clarity of mind, and happiness.

Other techniques involving control (concentration or focus) or monitoring (mindfulness) tend to keep your awareness on the surface — on the active level of your mind.

4worldlovers:
“Surrendering does not involve preparing for a soft landing; it means just landing on hard, ordinary ground, on rocky, wild countryside. Once we open ourselves, then we land on what is.” –Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism,Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche

Shambhala is an international community of urban meditation and rural retreat centers founded by the Vidyadhara Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche, and now led by Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Learn about our vision, lineage & community. More →

4worldlovers:
Diamond Way Buddhist Center Houston belongs to an international non-profit network of over 600 lay Diamond Way Buddhist centers of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism, founded by Lama Ole Nydahl and under the spiritual guidance of H.H. the 17th Gyalwa Karmapa, Trinley Thaye Dorje.


Diamond Way Buddhism offers practical and effective methods to realize mind’s inherent richness for the benefit of all. With an accessible and modern style, it works with people’s confidence and desire, using every situation in life to develop fearlessness and joy. We always present a basic introduction for newcomers, and the meditations are guided in English.

All are welcome to join, there are no prerequisites and there is no cost. A short introduction will be provided for all newcomers.