Zen Buddhist Temple

Oh this place is so cool. Came here with my sister and it was simply awesome. I have been looking into Buddhism and have been apprehensive about visiting a temple until today. I will be making this a weekly thing, it totally takes you to a different place.

If you are looking for a place to self reflect where the ambiance is so peaceful and serene, please checkout Zen Buddhist Temple. I usually attend the 4pm service consisting of a 25 minute silent meditation and after wards singing and chanting. There is a Dharma talk at the end for questions and answers. The Zen Buddhist temple is the perfect place to detach yourself from the drama of daily life.

My friend attends a Buddhist service further up north pretty regularly, so when he invited me to this service, I didn’t know what to expect but I thought it would be an interesting experience.
Well, I was right.
When we first arrived, we were quite a bit early. We had looked on the website before the time had changed from 9:30am to 10am. There were two gentlemen (monks?) outside cleaning the windows and walkway and one approached us and said we could either go to Starbucks and hang out or we could step inside and read the materials while the yoga class was going on. We decided to step inside. (On a side note, I thought it was interesting that they would send us to get the mind-​altering coffee before service. tee hee).
Anyway, once we were told the bookstore was closing, we went up to the temple about 30 minutes early. No one was there yet, but it was a very inviting room with lit candles and a Buddhist shrine alter. There was a choice between chairs to sit in or floor mats with cushions. In order to get the full experience, we chose the floor mats.
Honestly, if it weren’t for the comfort of that cushion on top of the floor mat to sit on, I don’t think I would’ve made it through the service. The first 30 minutes of meditating before the service were wonderful. I was really able to clear my head and a couple interesting thoughts came to me once I quieted my mind and listened. However, by the time the actual ‘ceremony’ started, I was ready to get up and get the blood flowing back into my lower extremities!
Another side note, and this is extremely important: Eat before arrival! It was SO QUIET during the meditation portions of the service that my stomach started to growl and all I could think from that moment on is ‘please don’t growl, please don’t growl” which turned to ‘did they hear that?’ and ‘could we please start some music, chanting, gonging, or SOMETHING so we can drown out the sound of my stomach growling!!’ I could even hear the person beside me swallow a few times. That’s how quiet it is.
All jokes aside, however, it was a very welcoming, warm, and serene service and I would love a chance to attend again. At the end of the service, newcomers are welcomed and told about various classes and events coming up and are also invited to ask any questions with tea and sweets at conclusion downstairs. A $ 5 donation is requested for attendance.
As other reviews have said, there is no way to know what is going to happen next, since there is no script, but such is the way of most spiritual centers. Repetition is key.
In summary: Don’t arrive early, be open minded, eat breakfast and you’ll love this Buddhist experience!

I took the 5 week meditation course. Bopkyong was as nice as can be and very welcoming. Like the previous post states, very little of the time is spent meditating. Most of the time is focused on learning techniques. I wish the class was a couple weeks longer, and there was more time spent meditating so we can practice with a group of people, nevertheless it was a great experience.
Whether your are spiritual or not, you can take something away from the Buddhist philosophies that you learn here during the meditation course.

I took the 5-​week Introduction to Meditation class here back in the fall and loved it. Each class is about an hour and a half, but only a small portion of that time is spent meditating. The rest of the class time involves instruction from the teacher on proper meditation techniques (postures, etc.), Buddhist philosophy, difficulties one encounters while meditating, and so on. The teacher was an excellent speaker and had a lovely, welcoming demeanor. She also sent out e-​mails at various points in the 5 weeks to remind us of topics she covered in class. There is a little bit of group sharing in the class, but it’s basically limited to who you are and why you signed up for the class – no overly touchy-​feely group therapy stuff.
If memory serves, classes 2 – 4 also involved about 30 mins. of yoga from a separate instructor. The purpose of this was to stretch our hips and knees to prepare us for sitting on the meditation cushions. The room where the class takes place is very large so there was plenty of room for yoga without feeling crowded.
I left every class feeling completely relaxed and inspired. I would recommend this course to anyone.

As the shirt in the temple store says, «Suffering is optional.»
I went to the one in Ann Arbor one night a million years ago and was hooked and decided to check out the Chicago branch when I first moved here in 2002.
My first visits were intimidating. There’s no formal instruction when you come in off the street. You will not necessarily be talked to by anyone. You just… Follow the lead. In that sense, it’s truly a self-​service religion.
It took me many years and a change of guard to fall in love with this temple again. I typically attend the 9:30a Sunday morning meditation service which typically runs about 1−½ hours including 2 sittings for meditation, some chanting and an always-​engaging talk from the temple leader. She has TRULY made this a spiritual home for me.
There are many activities on the calendar and there are ALWAYS new people joining on Sunday mornings. If you cannot get up that early, make your way to the 4p service which is shorter and is more for beginners. If you do make it to Sunday morning, you’ll be invited to stay after in the Sangha hall (down in the basement) for Ask A Buddhist (ask ANY question you want in a roundtable format), delicious tea and treats.
Even if you’re curious, come in.

As far as public meditation service goes, I am a total novice. I was a little anxious that I might feel singled out or uncomfortable attending a temple for the first time, but I was immediately put to ease once I walked through the door and a friendly, young man greeted me and I saw all the calm and quiet attendees. I took my shoes off and made my way to the free 9:30am Sunday meditation service upstairs.
The front half of the room has mats on the floor for seating, the back half has chairs. I slipped into one of the chairs in the back because I felt more comfortable being able to observe everything in front of me.
The service lasted approximately an hour and a half. Something I really appreciated was the last 15 or 20 minutes of discussion (the Dharma talk). Very inspirational and empowering, the teacher was also suprisingly humorous and relatable, comparing some Buddhist principles to the plot of the Transformer’s movies.
I was pleased to learn they also offer a free yoga session at 8:45am on Sundays before the 9:30am meditation service. They also offer a number of retreats and courses (My sister is doing a 5 day meditation course for $ 160, which is every Tuesday. They teach you Buddhist principles and breathing techniques, among other things.).
A voluntary $ 5 dollar donation is requested at the free services. Wear loose clothing, nothing too revealing and subdued colors to keep the atmosphere calm and relaxed.
Come with an open mind and heart.

I cannot say enough good things about the Zen Buddhist Temple, especially their meditation course. The service – I attend the 9:30am – is simple and lovely, and the people are friendly and welcoming.
I found this temple through Unilocal,actually, when I was interested in exploring Buddhism and I do not think I could have found a better place to do so.

They have public services on Sundays at 9:30am and 4:00pm. Went to the 9:30 service for my first session and it was great. I felt wonderful after. This is my first time meditating as well so I kinda didn’t exactly know what to do and it was hard clearing my thoughts. Sneaked a look around the others and tried to clear my thoughts and by the second sitting, I felt like I knew what I was doing. You have to let go of your fears and worries. So not easy to do! I will need to practice more to have the complete benefit of meditation.
I asked some first timers question at the nice man at the door. He answered my question and was welcoming. You must take your shoes off before you enter the temple. The atmosphere was comfortable. It’s carpeted and there are comfortable sofas on the first floor. The Sunday meditation is held on the 2^nd floor. You can use the cushions to sit or chairs for meditation. On the 9:30 service there are two 25min sitting, chanting in between, a Dharma talk and then some cookies and tea after. The Dharma talk told some inspiring stories. Didn’t stay for the cookies and tea, but maybe next time.
They ask for donation if you attend the public service regularly. They also have some services to show you and learn about the Buddhist way of life.
This is a great way to de-​stress your life and be zen. A quote that stayed with me after is «no thought is worth a second thought.»

I first visted this temple to complete an assignment for a course on Buddhism that I was taking at DePaul. I went to the Sunday 9:30am meditation service. It’s mostly seated meditation, with a little talk at the end. There are chairs as well as the mats for meditation. I’ve only been to the service a handful of times in the last 9 years, but i’m always telling myself I need to go because I always feel great after. Everyone seems to recommend the 4pm service on Sundays, but I’ve heard it’s mostly chanting which I don’t care for.
The meditation course they offer is nice. I took that in the fall of ’06. Along with learning the basic physicality of meditation (seating positions etc), there was a lot of talk about thought, which was extremely helpful for me. The idea that our thoughts should not control us, and yet we should never try to conrol our thoughts, we should just accept them and move on. I’m not sure I explained that well, but whatever it was that instructor said really stuck with me. It was very freeing.
If you’re at all interested in Buddhism and/​or meditation sign up for the course or go to one of the services. They are very nice and welcoming.

This temple means a lot to me. I started going to meditation sessions to help myself get through a very difficult time in my life. That was two years ago and I’m still going.
If you’re interested in investigating Buddhism, I reccomend the Sunday afternoon sessions at 4. Usually Sanha (the resident monk) does these sessions. She’s very nice. If you’re very reserved, don’t be intimidated by the meditation exercises. There’s some simple chanting/​singing. Not everyone can sing but sounding nice isn’t the point of the exercise. No one’s going to judge you so relax.
It’s important to know that Buddhism isn’t about giving answers to philosophical questions. Buddhism is about giving you a frame of reference and maybe a new way of thinking.
The meditation classes are also excellent.
I agree that the building is really cold in the winter, so wear layers.
The New Year’s celebration is really fun. I reccomend it to everyone, Buddhist or not.

The Zen Buddhism Temple will not give you a lecture on morality. It will not point you in the right direction. It will not pressure you for a commitment or ask for repentance. The temple is simple, and cold, and resources are sparse. But a visit to this might just restore your faith in humanity, and who can argue with that?