Welcome to the Green River Zen Center home page!

We’re a vibrant Zen Buddhist community, or sangha, integrating the Eastern-based Zen tradition with styles of Zen study and practice more accessible to contemporary American practitioners.

The sangha comes together on Tuesday evenings and Sunday afternoons (see Regular Schedule) at the Montague Retreat Center, 177 Ripley Road, in rural Montague, MA. We meet in a spacious, beautifully refurbished 18th century barn with a soaring cathedral ceiling, vast windows, and bamboo floors. We invite you to join us there.

Dharma talks are given by our head teacher, Roshi Eve Myonen Marko, or by one of the Dharma Holders, Steve Kanji Ruhl and John Genyo Sprague, followed by discussion. Private study, including koan work, is available with Roshi Eve and with the Dharma Holders.

Each month we hold a Renewal of Vows ceremony or a Reflection on Precepts. We also offer monthly one-day retreats and longer retreats, called sesshins, three times a year, as well as precepts classes and other trainings (see Special Events.)

Green River Zen Center is part of the Zen Peacemaker family, founded by Roshi Bernie Glassman, and the  White Plum lineage, established by Roshi Taizan Maezumi. A stewards council, comprised of elected sangha members, governs Green River Zen Center (see Shared Stewardship). The council meets monthly and all members of the sangha are encouraged to attend.

We emphasize gender, age, and ethnic diversity — the more the better! — and support collective awakening by appreciating the Zen flavor of each and every participant.

We also are fully wheelchair accessible.

EVERYONE IS WELCOME!