About

I am Howard Lazzarini and I started Everett Zazen Group to give everyone the opportunity to practice zazen (seated zen) in the style of my teachers Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and Shohaku Okumura Roshi and their teacher Kodo Sawaki Roshi. These teachers are part of the Soto Zen lineage founded in Japan by Eihei Dogen Zenji in the eleventh century (please see the Dogen Institute tab above). 

I was introduced to zazen practice at Antaiji, formerly a small temple in the north of Kyoto, Japan, in the late 1960's, where I practiced zazen and participated in sesshins (long periods of zazen lasting for 3-5 days). At that time, I met Uchiyama Roshi and after he retired, I visited him at his home to ask questions and learn more about Buddhist practice.

I took lay ordination in 2012 with my current teacher, Shohaku Okumura Roshi, abbot of Sanshin Zen Community in Bloomington, Indiana (please see the Sanshin Zen Community and Dogen Institute tab above).

It is important to know that as a lay practitioner, I am not an ordained priest or authorized to teach, but I can lead and participate in zazen sessions.

I hope you will join us in our zazen practice in this rich tradition.

Prior to coming to zazen practice for the first time, I suggest that you read Chapter 3 of Opening the Hand of Thought:  Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (available through the Sanshin Zen Community bookstore or Amazon) so that you will understand something about the fundamentals of practice before you participate.

I look forward to meeting you.