Compassionate Ocean Zen Center

08/24/2026

💐Flower Arrangement Workshop💐
Saturday, October 3,
9:30 – 11:30 A.M.
Compassionate Ocean Zen Center
​652 17th Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413

🪷In Buddhism, we place flowers on the altar as an expression of respect and gratitude, and also as a reminder of the ephemeral nature of our precious lives. Flowers bring beauty into our lives throughout the seasons, and can connect us to nature.

Join us for this hands-on beginner’s workshop for those who would like to learn basic guidelines for creating floral arrangements with seasonal flowers. Topics will include elements of floral design, color combinations, flower selection, and extending the life of cut flowers. We will create our own take-home floral arrangements; all materials will be provided.

Taught by Lisa Boesen, who often arranges flowers for Compassionate Ocean, and Ann Thureen, Master Gardener and developer of the U of MN Extension Master Gardener’s “Growing Connections” program.

Materials fee: $25

Additional donations welcome.​

Pre-registration required - Space is limited

08/20/2026

Fall Open House
📌Saturday, Sep. 12 at 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Compassionate Ocean Zen Center, located across the street from the Casket Arts building, is holding an Open House in early September.

You are invited to:​
Tour the Zen Center
Learn about our programs
Meet our Guiding Teachers
Enjoy refreshments
Attend a short introductory presentation at 2:00 P.M

Compassionate Ocean offers opportunities for meditation practice, weekly talks, and classes on Buddhist teachings. Four times a year we offer programs in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). We also conduct meditation retreats and introductory sessions, all in a welcoming place of peace in the heart of Northeast Minneapolis.

Go to www.OceanZen.org for more information!

08/12/2026

Join us on Sept 13th for our first Sunday Sangha back from break! Sitting starts at 9am.

08/03/2026

Sharing a poem, Stone Love by Louis Erdrich, which was read during the dharma talk last Sunday July 26th.

Please catch us after our break Sept 13th. We will continue to have weekday morning sittings at 7 AM.

Go to www.OceanZen.org for information!

07/24/2026

In the light of our practice period at Hokyoji
Monday evening, Aug. 31 – Monday midday, Sep. 7.

Joen O'Neal (far left) and Katagiri Roshi (second from left) in the Hokyoji Zendo (August, 1985)

During this practice period Joen was the shuso (head monk), which is why she is sitting next to Katagiri Roshi.

Also present is Ikko Narasaki Roshi, a visiting Zen teacher from Japan.

Go to www.OceanZen.org to register.

07/22/2026

📌This Sunday, July 26 will be the last Sunday morning gathering until September 13th.

Each year we pause our Sunday gatherings
during the month of August and the beginning of September until after Labor Day
(which is late this year).

Weekday Morning Meditation will continue as usual.🧘‍♀️🪷

07/19/2026

07/18/2026

Please join us for a very special quest speaker tomorrow!

Join us this Sunday July 19th for a very special guest, Ryushin Jan Freier. Sitting starts at 9am!

Ryushin Jan Freier received lay ordination in 1989, and is a long-time Zen practitioner, going back to his time with Dainin Katagiri Roshi at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Currently he is active with the Hokyoji Zen Practice Community. Jan is an active volunteer at Open Arms in Minneapolis, preparing and packaging meals for those with chronic or life threatening illnesses since 2017. Jan is also an avid gardener, focusing on ground cover and shade gardening, and feeding suburban deer and rabbits.

07/17/2026

🪷Opportunities for Involvement
Email the Center to learn more.

Fall Open House
Fall Fundraising Support

Contact [email protected] to volunteer your time or expertise to support the Center's activities.

Our Center exists through the support and participation of many beings. To sustain it involves taking care of many tasks on an ongoing basis. Sharing in this responsibility is part of our sangha practice.🙏

07/15/2026

Join us this Sunday July 19th for a very special guest, Ryushin Jan Freier. Sitting starts at 9am!

Ryushin Jan Freier received lay ordination in 1989, and is a long-time Zen practitioner, going back to his time with Dainin Katagiri Roshi at the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. Currently he is active with the Hokyoji Zen Practice Community. Jan is an active volunteer at Open Arms in Minneapolis, preparing and packaging meals for those with chronic or life threatening illnesses since 2017. Jan is also an avid gardener, focusing on ground cover and shade gardening, and feeding suburban deer and rabbits.