A recent study by PEW Research found that 88% of Buddhists are left leaning when it comes to social politics. The statistics confirm what our teacher, Yoshin Sensei, has expressed and challenged for the last 15 years. As a community, engaging in this dialogue has come at great cost - we have made as many errors in pushing the issue as there have been people who’ve left the Center out of disagreement or downright refusal to learn. 

We are not a conservative center as many have accused us of being, nor are we a refuge for liberals.  SMZC is a stand for a much larger cross section of people experiencing the Buddha’s wisdom and living the values.  We are also a stand for the men and woman of our armed services, our police officers and firefighters having a community that they call home.

The Buddha taught the Middle Way, yet we don’t see that stand being reflected in the statistics about the larger Zen community. Given this, we encourage Zen Buddhists everywhere to ask the question, “Does maintaining the status-quo make sense? How is it that a world religion that prides itself on being inclusive, be so exclusive?”

Come visit us in person and know for yourself.  Enjoy the video….

A Talk By Yoshin Sensei

Given at the Zen Center of Los Angeles on June 7th, 2009

  Coming Home  by SMZC Audio

The ultimate unblinking, unapologetic dedication to service with gratitude!

At this center we choose life!

Check out this video on Maezumi Roshi.  He was my teacher for nearly 20 years. The Santa Monica Zen Center would not exist if it were not for him. I, we, owe him a debt of gratitude that we repay through our practice and carrying the Dharma into the world.

click to view video