Mark your calendar!

Guest Teacher Visit
DMZC’s good friend and dharma brother, Rev. Taizen Dale Verkuilen, co-founder of the Midwest Soto Zen Community in Madison, Wisconsin, will deliver the dharma talk on Sunday, April 27, introducing a new book, a posthumous publication from his deceased spouse, Renshin Barbara, titled Dancing with the Benefactors, Exploring the Wisdom of the Flower Ornament Sutra.

Upcoming Return to Silence – Half Day Sit on May 3, 2025 from 9 a.m. to Noon
The half-day sits are on the first Saturday of the second month of each quarter (upcoming dates include May 3, August 2, and November 1). See our Practice page for details. 

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The purpose of human life is just to plant good seeds day by day. That’s enough. If we do this, we create human culture; we can leave a wonderful culture, not only for us and for the people around us but for people from generation to generation.

Dainin Katagiri
Founder of Des Moines Zen Center Lineage

The purpose of the Zen Center is to provide a place where people can examine their lives, their intentions, their relationship to the world.  The ultimate solution to the problems facing our world is a foundational change in each of our individual lives, a change in our attitude, facing our own greed, anger, and delusion and converting these into generosity, lovingkindness, and wisdom. The Zen Center provides a place where this transformation can be practiced, taught, and supported.

Eido Espe, Head Priest/Teacher Emeritus
Founder, Deep River Temple (Shinsenji)

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The Des Moines Zen Center, Deep River Temple (Shinsenji), is committed to inclusivity and diversity and welcomes people from all walks of life, race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, and religions. The practice of sitting quietly with yourself, surrounded and supported by others doing the same, can benefit everyone.