Our gate is open.
Open door, open hearts, open minds.
Thank you for visiting our website. We hope the information on this page will help you explore Zen Buddhist practice and plan a visit to our temple in Capitola.
Welcome to Ocean Gate Zen Temple
Being a beginner at anything can be uncomfortable. Having a clear way to start and knowing you will be welcomed makes a difference.
At Ocean Gate, our aim is to open the door and give you what you need to find your seat, and your way, and explore Zen practice in a supportive community of like-minded friends.
Here are some great ways to get started:
Join a Saturday Morning “Come as You Are” Program
Our Saturday morning “Come as You Are” is a great place to start. There is always someone there to greet you, answer any questions you might have, and help you get settled in your seat. You are welcome to come to any or all of the morning program.
We start the morning with 20 minutes of zazen, followed by a relaxed informal tea time, a dharma talk, and a question and answer period. After the question and answer period, you are welcome to ask further questions or simply talk with people in the community. Learn more about Saturday Morning Come as You Are. Learn more about Saturday Morning Come as You Are.
Learn how to sit zazen (Zen meditation) 8:30 am First Saturdays
Another great way to get started is to come and learn about the basics of zazen – what to do with your body, your mind and everything else - from an experienced practitioner in an easy and relaxed format. We offer concrete guidance in what posture works for your body (on a cushion, a bench, or a chair), how to sit zazen in a sane, caring, and balanced way, and some of the forms we do in the zendo.
We have zazen instruction at 8:30 am on the first Saturday of every month before the morning program. You can also review this page on how to sit. We also offer a more extended Introduction to Zen regularly (see calendar).
Join us for zazen or other activities
You are welcome to join us for any scheduled activities including zazen periods – cushions, meditation benches, and chairs are available. Please sit in a way that is comfortable for you. For those who cannot come in person, you are welcome to join us via Zoom (see bottom of this page for Zoom link).
Thursday evenings, after zazen, there is an opportunity to join in a discussion, ask questions, and receive instruction one-on-one from one of our priests, in a relaxed and informal setting.
Keep in touch
Join our mailing list below to learn about what’s happening at Ocean Gate including latest events, classes, activities, and community news.
What is most important?
You are welcome, as you are, to find a path in Zen practice in a way that works for your life.
Come to zazen periods, the Saturday morning program, study and explore Buddhist teachings in classes, participate in chanting, ceremony, and ritual, copy sutras, and/or discover with others how to engage fruitfully with the wider community.