Empty Hand Zen Center

Specialties

Simple seated and walking meditation (zazen and kinhin) for beginners and experienced practitioners alike. Chanting services, including well-​being services. Brief Dharma talks Monday, Wednesday and Friday nights, as well as Sunday mornings. Day-​long and three day retreats. Classes and study groups. Workshops such as sutra copying (beginning calligraphy). Weddings and memorial services for Members.

History

Established in 1990.

The Empty Hand Zen Center was originally founded as the Meeting House Zen Group, to offer a place for the practice and study of Zen Buddhism in Westchester County, New York. After over 20 years in rented spaces, we now own this lovely brick building in downtown New Rochelle. Right in the midst of the busyness of multi-​cultural urban life, we have carved out an oasis of simplicity within which deep silence and stillness can be experienced. Everyone is welcome!

Meet the Manager

Konin C.

Manager

Guiding Teacher, Rev. Konin Cardenas.

Konin began the practice of Zen in 1987, and was ordained a Soto Zen priest and nun by Sekkei Harada Roshi in 2007. She has lived and trained at Hosshinji senmon sodo in Japan, at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, and at San Francisco Zen Center’s City Center. For the past three years Konin was the leader of «Dharma en Español,» a Spanish-​language Zen study group. She was a Co-​Chair of the SFZC Cultural Awareness and Inclusivity Committee, and Manager of the graduate student residence at the Institute of Buddhist Studies. Konin is a professionally trained inter-​faith chaplain, having worked in both hospital and hospice settings. She earned an MBA from the University of California, Berkeley and worked in finance for many years. She is a long-​time practitioner of yoga, a student of calligraphy and shakyo, and the mother of a 24 year-​old daughter.