Dharma Field Zen Center

Dharma Field Zen Center We welcome everyone.

Dharma Field Meditation and Learning Center is a community dedicated to the practice of Zen and the teachings of Buddhism in a setting not bound to any one culture. The Dharma Field page is maintained by volunteers in the Dharma Field community, though occasionally teachers or staff may monitor some discussions and comments.

Dear Friends,It is with sadness that we bring the news of the passing of Tomoe Katagiri. Tomoe-san has been a guidin...
06/11/2026

Dear Friends,

It is with sadness that we bring the news of the passing of Tomoe Katagiri. Tomoe-san has been a guiding force for so many people in our Zen communities. Her teachings, guidance and support have played a powerful role for many practitioners throughout the years, and her influence is felt deeply here at Dharma Field. She will be missed greatly, and the impact of all that she has done will reverberate continually for us.

A message from Minnesota Zen Meditation Center:

Tomoe Katagiri passed away in Minneapolis on May 30th. She was 94 years old. When her husband, the late Dainin Katagiri, founded MZMC in 1972, Tomoe was by his side. Energetic and diligent, she helped to develop our center in countless ways. As one of the first people in North America to learn and teach the practice of sewing Buddhist ceremonial robes, Tomoe went on to become a master of Zen sewing. For over forty years she quietly guided students to sew the rakusu and okesa that they would wear, transmitting a deep reverence for Buddha’s robes, making lifelong friends, and passing on her skills to a new generation of teachers.

Throughout her long life, Tomoe was a beloved model of devotion to sewing as spiritual practice and Buddhism as a caring way of life.

From an article about Tomoe-san from Tricycle magazine:

"Toward the end of our interview I asked Tomoe what is most important about Nyoho-e. She leaned in. 'Through sewing you learn a lot about the Dharma, Buddha's teaching. It’s not just sewing! One stitch. Tiny stitch. When you think how many yards you will sew, chanting the Buddha's name with every stitch, if you count all the stitches, you say, "I cannot do it!" But, if you do this stitch: one stitch, one stitch, one stitch continuously, you will finish. If you stop, if you quit, even if you are very good at stitching, you will never finish. Just continue! And when you continue with the stitching, you will have many problems. Experience. Yes. That is your life. You can learn about oneness just chanting refuge in the Buddha with every stitch, and your life, that is dharma stitching.'"

MZMC will host a memorial service for Tomoe Katagiri on Sunday, June 28th, from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., with a reception to follow.

MZMC will offer memorial ekos during the morning service on June 11th and July 16th.

Hey Everyone,Recently, while working on what it means for someone to take up Zen lay and priest ordination, I was remind...
06/03/2026

Hey Everyone,

Recently, while working on what it means for someone to take up Zen lay and priest ordination, I was reminded of a conversation that arose during a discussion group on The Dhammapada a couple of years ago. There was a question about what it means to stray from the path and so what it means to be on the path. Surely, one of the participants remarked, when one is behaving badly, acting in a way that is at odds with the precepts, one has strayed from the path. Coming back to this moment is to step back on the path.

I suggested, however, that one who sees with Right Wisdom realizes there is no straying from the path. Everything is on the path. Sure, there is behavior, even bad behavior, that arises from confusion, but with Right Wisdom, it can be seen that, good or bad, confused or enlightened, it is all the path.

It was a point I’d found reiterated in a short piece titled “Everywhere,” from a collection of teachings compiled and translated by Thomas Cleary titled The Pocket Zen Reader:

Ta-sui was asked, “Buddha’s truth is everywhere; so where do you teach students to plant their feet?”

He replied, “The vast ocean lets fish leap freely; the endless sky lets birds fly freely.”

There is no place, no particular path, no Buddha’s path, which excludes where we are when we are confused, consigning ignorance to some other path, say the path of Mara, or to wandering around in the brambles. It’s all reality; it’s all an opportunity to practice.

That doesn’t mean we should act recklessly, that “it’s all good,” it’s all just reality expressing itself. In fact, in the passage of The Dhammapada that inspired our conversation, Buddha reminds us that “the mindful ones exert themselves.” We must make an effort, or it will be as if we are wandering around in the brambles. It is only for one who sees with Right Wisdom that the path can be truly seen, the Way traversed.

What makes this teaching especially timely is that it can also remind us, as we embark on our various travels this summer, seemingly leaving the zendo behind us: wherever we go is our zendo.

While our class offerings aren’t as profuse in the summer as at other times of the year, we continue our discussion and study groups on Wednesday evenings and Thursday mornings, respectively. This July, I also plan to offer a short class on a teaching of the Buddhadharma. I haven’t settled on a topic yet, so please keep your eye on your inbox for a separate announcement, which I hope to have soon. Finally, know that all summer we remain open for our full sitting schedule, and offer free, public talks on Sunday mornings.

Take care and be well,

Steve Matuszak, Dharma Field head teacher

Address

3118 49th Street W
Minneapolis, MN
55410

Telephone

+16129284868

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Dharma Field Zen Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category