Welcome to One River Zen
Where ancient tradition meets modern life. At One River Zen, we blend the timeless teachings of Sōtō Zen Buddhism with contemporary practices to help you awaken to your true self and realize your full potential. Our community is rooted in tradition yet fully open to the present, empowering all to embody wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness in today’s world through daily practice.

UPCOMING PROGRAMS

Two Arrows Meeting in Midair | A study of Sandōkai

Join us for a four week study starting August 14th of Sandōkai. Sandōkai is more than just a philosophical treatise, it is a living invitation: to bring the essence of awakening into the ordinary rhythms of our lives.

Offered online & in-person

Toward the Quiet Weekend Meditation Retreat

Embrace the flourishing energy of summer with this Weekend Retreat, held August 15-17th in Ottawa, IL. This retreat offers a unique opportunity to pause, breathe, and harmonize with the natural rhythms of the season!

Offered online & in-person

Entering the Way Fundamentals of Zen Meditation Class

Join us for this four-week series starting August 6th and ground yourself in the practices of meditation and mindfulness so you can begin to open to your life and recognize your true potential.

Offered online & in-person

PRACTICE OFFERINGS

 

Taking the Path of Zen

What does it mean to be a Zen Buddhist? Study the traditional path for seekers of the Way for more than 1,500 years.

Offered online & in-person

Meditation

Meditation is the core practice of Zen. Join us online and in-person to encounter this transformational practice in a supportive community.

 
 

Classes

Begin your meditation & mindfulness journey today and transform your life with classes in all facets of the Buddhist spiritual path

Offered online & in-person

Retreats

Retreats are a time to take a step back from the habits of our daily life and connect with our authentic self.

Offered online, in-person, & residential

 
A pair of headphones surrounding a smartphone displaying "Awakening Streams: The One River Zen Podcast". Text on the left reads "stay attuned." On the right, the One River Zen logo and the word "Podcast" with a microphone icon. Background is a light wood surface.

“If you are searching for fellowship with peaceful, mindful, and like-minded people look no further.”
-Rhonda N.

Visit Us

121 E Prospect Ave
Ottawa, IL 61350

One River Zen Meditation Center is located just over an hour from Chicago where the Illinois and Fox Rivers converge. We’re nestled in the Illinois River Valley near scenic Starved Rock State Park.

 
 

Instagram @oneriverzen

It’s very important, as you go about your daily activity, to ensure that you’ve brought your heart into the matter. We often treat the day like a carved-up to-do list—moving from one task to the next just to get to the part we reall
It’s very important, as you go about your daily activity, to ensure that you’ve brought your heart into the matter. We often treat the day like a carved-up to-do list—moving from one task to the next just to get to the part we really want to engage with. But that won’t do. That’s not the Way. It’s essential that we receive the full counsel—not just of what we know in the mind, not just of what we see and hear—but also how we feel. You must bring your feelings into your activity. That’s the only way wisdom can fully manifest: when you’re completely moved, completely actualized by what’s arising. From there, something deeper emerges—a seeing that recognizes what’s needed in the eyes of another, and a doing that naturally manifests as compassion. #OneRiverZen #PracticeWholeheartedly #BringYourHeart #ZenLife #PickUsOttawaIL #MindfulLiving #HeartPractice #CompassionInAction #Presence #DailyDharma
SILENCE IS GOLDEN Sometimes we feel compelled—almost out of habit—to speak. We keep prattling on, congratulating ourselves on how good we sound, how much sense we make, or how articulate we are. But in the end, nothing is really being sa
SILENCE IS GOLDEN Sometimes we feel compelled—almost out of habit—to speak. We keep prattling on, congratulating ourselves on how good we sound, how much sense we make, or how articulate we are. But in the end, nothing is really being said. Spend a few moments today contemplating how golden silence can be. When we step back and set our words aside, often problems that seemed intractable begin to dissolve. The truth of a situation can manifest clearly when we’re no longer confused by the discursive mind’s reflections. So today, practice with silence. I’m not saying don’t use any words. I’m saying: use them precisely and skillfully—and then notice what emerges in the gaps between them, when we’re asked to demonstrate the contents of our heart rather than speak about them. #ZenPractice #GoldenSilence #MindfulSpeech #DharmaTalk #StillnessSpeaks #ZenDaily #DiscursiveMind #MeditationPractice #HeartOfZen #ZenWisdom #OneRiverZen #PracticeSilence #LessIsMore #SkillfulMeans #PickUsOttawaIL #ZenLife #BuddhistPractice #PresenceAndSilence
Where Have You Come From? One common question that Zen masters of old would often ask when a student came to see them was: “Where have you come from?” It’s a very telling question. There’s a strong temptation for the studen
Where Have You Come From? One common question that Zen masters of old would often ask when a student came to see them was: “Where have you come from?” It’s a very telling question. There’s a strong temptation for the student to reveal where they’re caught—usually in a mental laundry list of ordered events: where we’ve been, where we’re going, what we’ll do when we get there. Very seldom are we actually here—present and on the spot—bearing witness to what is arising. This question serves as a skillful means for masters to shock students out of that entrapped state. So today, ask yourself the same question from time to time: Where have you come from? Where are you standing right now? Are you emerging from this breath? Are you emerging from the activity you’re currently engaged in? Or are you somewhere far away—wandering through distant lands of hurt or longing? I promise you: there’s a lot more joy right here. Stay with this. #ZenPractice #MindfulLiving #WhereHaveYouComeFrom #BeHereNow #MondayMindfulness #ZenMorning #SpiritualAwakening #MeditationPractice #DailyZen #PresenceOverPerfection #DharmaTalk #OneRiverZen #PickUsOttawaIL #ZenLife #JustThisMoment #BuddhistPractice #MorningMeditation #StillnessSpeaks #SotoZen #TathagataMind
This morning, during our summer retreat, the Sangha gathered in stillness and joy to witness Jikō Andi Trowbridge receive Jukai. With open heart and steady presence, she took refuge in the Three Treasures and vowed to live a life of awakening and co
This morning, during our summer retreat, the Sangha gathered in stillness and joy to witness Jikō Andi Trowbridge receive Jukai. With open heart and steady presence, she took refuge in the Three Treasures and vowed to live a life of awakening and compassion. Her Dharma name, Jikō—Compassionate Light—reflects the radiant strength she brings to her work with children and to the world around her. But this was more than an individual vow. It was a moment of shared intention—a community turning toward the Way together, deepening our collective commitment to wisdom, service, and love. Jikō’s light now joins the long stream of Bodhisattvas who vow to meet suffering with presence and tenderness. May we walk with her. #Jukai #Jikō #CompassionateLight #OneRiverZen #ZenRetreat #SotoZen #ZenCeremony #Sangha #BodhisattvaVow #ZenBuddhism #OttawaIL #ChildrenFirst #AwakeningTogether #HeartOfPractice
Today we celebrate Jikō Andi Trowbridge’s Jukai—her vow to live with courage, clarity, and boundless compassion. Before the gathered Sangha, Andi received the precepts and the Dharma name Jikō, meaning Compassionate Light—a name th
Today we celebrate Jikō Andi Trowbridge’s Jukai—her vow to live with courage, clarity, and boundless compassion. Before the gathered Sangha, Andi received the precepts and the Dharma name Jikō, meaning Compassionate Light—a name that speaks to the love and strength she offers every day in her work with children in need. Like the great bodhisattvas who walk quietly among us, Jikō brings a steady presence to places of deep suffering. She is a light for those who struggle to see their own. Congratulations, Jikō. May your vow continue to shine through your work, your life, and the countless hearts you touch. #Jukai #Jikō #CompassionateLight #OneRiverZen #ZenBuddhism #SotoZen #DharmaName #BodhisattvaVow #ZenCeremony #ZenPractice #OttawaIL #Sangha #ChildrenFirst #CompassionInAction
We’ve all heard the expression “Good grief!”—usually blurted out when something minor goes wrong. But real grief is anything but trivial. Just taste even a drop of it, and you’ll understand. We may feel tempted to bypas
We’ve all heard the expression “Good grief!”—usually blurted out when something minor goes wrong. But real grief is anything but trivial. Just taste even a drop of it, and you’ll understand. We may feel tempted to bypass grief, perhaps even thinking it’s selfish to dwell in it. But grief isn’t selfish. It’s a fierce reminder of the deep interconnection that is our true nature—an invitation to clear away the mind’s weeds and reveal the vast, open sky of wisdom and compassion. So yes, good grief. And in the midst of it, know that you have the treasure of sangha to hold you and lift you up, whole. #GoodGrief #ZenWisdom #GriefAndGrace #Interbeing #CompassionInAction #MindfulLiving #EmotionalHealing #SanghaSupport #BuddhistPractice #ZenLife #DharmaInDailyLife #LetItBreakOpen #WisdomAndCompassion #ClearMindOpenHeart #OneRiverZen
Ultimately, our karmic character is forged not by what we know, but by what we do. It’s tempting sometimes to take our study and our practice and really buckle down in an attempt to create new patterns and new ways of knowing. But this isn&rsqu
Ultimately, our karmic character is forged not by what we know, but by what we do. It’s tempting sometimes to take our study and our practice and really buckle down in an attempt to create new patterns and new ways of knowing. But this isn’t the way at all. If it’s not applied to our everyday life, then it’s to no avail. It’s like reading a car repair manual but never actually picking up a wrench and getting to work. Today, your life is going to present you with a series of doors that open. You’ll feel the tug of longing and the push of aversion. But in those moments, it’s critical that you approach everything with a sense of wonder and novelty—working skillfully with what arises to transform suffering. That’s how we put our karmic character into action: through the practice of wonder, by including everything, and by allowing wisdom to manifest in ways that alleviate suffering. So take that practice—all of it—into your life today. It will make a difference this morning. #OneRiverZen #ZenLife #PickUsOttawaIL #StudentsOfTheWay #ZenPractice #KarmaInAction #MindfulLiving #EmbodiedWisdom #EverydayZen #TransformSuffering #SpiritualDiscipline #LivingTheWay #PresenceAndPractice #DoNotWasteYourLife
The Power of Words In Zen, we often hear that words and concepts can't express ultimate truth. And that's true—but it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant. Words and concepts are some of the most powerful tools we have to gesture towar
The Power of Words In Zen, we often hear that words and concepts can't express ultimate truth. And that's true—but it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant. Words and concepts are some of the most powerful tools we have to gesture toward that truth. The words we choose can give life—or they can do real harm. So today, as you move through the world, pay attention. Notice how you're using language—how you're relating to others through your words. What subtle meanings are you trying to convey? How are you shaping the space between you and the other person? Be mindful. Use your words to lift others up. Use them to point beyond the suffering that so often creeps into our speech—especially when we use dialogue to put others down and prop ourselves up. Watch all of that. And watch, too, what can be conveyed in silence. #ZenLife #MindfulSpeech #OneRiverZen #LanguageMatters #UseWordsWisely #ZenPractice #DailyMindfulness #PickUsOttawaIL #BuddhistWisdom #PracticeCompassion #PowerOfSilence #RightSpeech #WordsCanHeal #SpiritualPractice #EverydayZen #ZenMindfulness
We’re often attached to our hopes and dreams—and that’s not necessarily wrong. But if you’re going to dream, don’t just dream in your head. Don’t let it stop at words. Dream with your hands. That’s where pr
We’re often attached to our hopes and dreams—and that’s not necessarily wrong. But if you’re going to dream, don’t just dream in your head. Don’t let it stop at words. Dream with your hands. That’s where practice lives. In presence. In effort. In action. Because the space between what we want and what is—that’s where suffering tends to grow. So show up. Right on the spot. Work with what is. And let wisdom shape the way forward. — Sensei Michael Brunner oneriverzen.org 🧘 #pickusottawail #zenlife #sotozen #embodiedpractice #mindfulwork #zenbuddhism #justsit #dreamwithyourhands #spiritualpractice #everydayzen #workaspractice #intentionalaction
☸️ Scenes from this morning’s service at One River Zen. There’s no better way to begin your weekend than with silence, intention, and community. Join us every Saturday at 8A for service—and take the first step on your own journey o
☸️ Scenes from this morning’s service at One River Zen. There’s no better way to begin your weekend than with silence, intention, and community. Join us every Saturday at 8A for service—and take the first step on your own journey of awakening. Just come as you are. All are welcome. 🙏 #oneriverzen #ottawaillinois #meditation #zen #buddhism #spiritualcommunity #mindfulness #sangha #zazen #sotozen #startyourjourney #buddhistservice #weekendwisdom #pickusottawail #zenlife
It’s very important, as you go about your daily activity, to ensure that you’ve brought your heart into the matter. We often treat the day like a carved-up to-do list—moving from one task to the next just to get to the part we reall SILENCE IS GOLDEN Sometimes we feel compelled—almost out of habit—to speak. We keep prattling on, congratulating ourselves on how good we sound, how much sense we make, or how articulate we are. But in the end, nothing is really being sa Where Have You Come From? One common question that Zen masters of old would often ask when a student came to see them was: “Where have you come from?” It’s a very telling question. There’s a strong temptation for the studen This morning, during our summer retreat, the Sangha gathered in stillness and joy to witness Jikō Andi Trowbridge receive Jukai. With open heart and steady presence, she took refuge in the Three Treasures and vowed to live a life of awakening and co Today we celebrate Jikō Andi Trowbridge’s Jukai—her vow to live with courage, clarity, and boundless compassion. Before the gathered Sangha, Andi received the precepts and the Dharma name Jikō, meaning Compassionate Light—a name th We’ve all heard the expression “Good grief!”—usually blurted out when something minor goes wrong. But real grief is anything but trivial. Just taste even a drop of it, and you’ll understand. We may feel tempted to bypas Ultimately, our karmic character is forged not by what we know, but by what we do. It’s tempting sometimes to take our study and our practice and really buckle down in an attempt to create new patterns and new ways of knowing. But this isn&rsqu The Power of Words In Zen, we often hear that words and concepts can't express ultimate truth. And that's true—but it doesn’t mean they’re unimportant. Words and concepts are some of the most powerful tools we have to gesture towar We’re often attached to our hopes and dreams—and that’s not necessarily wrong. But if you’re going to dream, don’t just dream in your head. Don’t let it stop at words. Dream with your hands. That’s where pr ☸️ Scenes from this morning’s service at One River Zen. There’s no better way to begin your weekend than with silence, intention, and community. Join us every Saturday at 8A for service—and take the first step on your own journey o
Featured
The Radiant Thread of Being | Shōyōroku 67
Daily Zen
The Radiant Thread of Being | Shōyōroku 67
Daily Zen

In this teisho, we enter the deep current of the Avatamsaka Sutra and Dōgen’s wisdom to explore Indra’s Net, karmic momentum, and the luminous jewel hidden in the folds of your very own robe. You don’t need to earn it—but you do need to realize it.

We are already reflecting the whole, whether we see it or not.

Wonder, not knowledge, is the key.

Daily Zen
The Taste of the Ordinary: Beyond Buddhas and Ancestors
Daily Zen
The Taste of the Ordinary: Beyond Buddhas and Ancestors
Daily Zen

What if awakening isn’t found in scriptures or mountaintops, but in a simple farm rice cake?
In this grounded and provocative talk, Sensei Michael Brunner reflects on a Zen koan that challenges our deepest assumptions about sacredness. Why do we divide life into holy and profane? What do we miss when we dismiss the ordinary?

Daily Zen
Stop Trying to Understand, and See | Shōyōroku Case 80: Ryuge Passes the Chin Rest
Daily Zen
Stop Trying to Understand, and See | Shōyōroku Case 80: Ryuge Passes the Chin Rest
Daily Zen

We chase meaning like it’s out there somewhere—hidden in a teaching, a moment, a breakthrough. But what happens when even “no meaning” becomes another thing to hold onto? In this talk on Book of Equanimity, Case 80, we sit with Ryūge’s journey through questions, blows, and the quiet unraveling of self. It’s not about finding the answer. It’s about what’s left when the search gives up.

Daily Zen
Anna Freud’s Defense Mechanisms of the Ego and the Dharma Path | The Karma Lectures, Part Three
Daily Zen
Anna Freud’s Defense Mechanisms of the Ego and the Dharma Path | The Karma Lectures, Part Three
Daily Zen

What holds the self together after it’s been born through karma? In this week’s powerful class, we step beneath the surface of our constructed identities to explore the quiet architecture of the ego—its defense mechanisms, its patterns of protection, and its habitual strategies for survival. Drawing from Anna Freud’s foundational work and illuminated through the lens of Zen practice, we uncover how fear, shame, and avoidance become karmic habits… and how clarity, presence, and vow can transform them. This isn’t about fixing yourself—it’s about meeting yourself fully. Join us for a deep dive into the hidden strategies of the self, and the liberating possibility of embodying your true nature.

Daily Zen