See our practice schedule for meeting times.

Starting April 16, 2025

The Des Moines Zen Center’s Wednesday night study group will start a new topic on April 16. The new topic, “What Is Zen?” will be an exploration of this question through reading and discussing Norman Fischer and Susan Moon’s book, “What Is Zen?: Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind,” the cover of which is presented above. This study group session will start on April 16 and will continue until the book is completed.

This material is applicable for long-time practitioners and newcomers as well. In fact, it would be a great way for anyone interested in Zen, meditation, or Buddhism in general to get started, so newcomers are most certainly welcome! The study group is preceded by a 40-minute meditation period starting at 6:00 PM. Coupling meditation with study is an excellent way to practice.

The book covers many topics and is in a question-and-answer format, with Susan asking the questions and Norman responding. Here are a couple of comments from other teachers at the front of the book:

“This book is pure Zen, pure Norman, pure Sue, and pure poetry in spite of being in the form of prose: refreshingly down-to-earth, modest, razor sharp, and subtle. Zen can’t help but come alive for you in the reading, and even more, in coupling your reading with practice.” – Jon Kabat-Zinn

“This is the book I will give to those who ask about Zen. Not just for beginners, but practitioners of all levels, will find in it a timely, limpid distillation of the wisdom and kindness of contemporary Zen.” – Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara

It is not necessary to have a copy of the book to participate in the study group. However, for those who wish to purchase the book, it can be purchased from Shambala Press at this link: What Is Zen?: Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind – 9781611802436.

A PDF version is also available for free at this link: What is Zen?

There is no cost for participating in the DMZC’s study group, but free-will donations are always appreciated