Dear friends, Please note that Wednesday, March 11th, will be the last in-person Wednesday practice session at our Zendo until April 15th, and Sunday, March 15th, will be the last in-person Sunday practice session at our Zendo until April 19th, 2026. I will be in Asheville, North Carolina, through April 12th, 2026, and you can join me on Wednesdays and Sundays on Zoom. I look forward to continuing our practice from Asheville on Zoom. Please check the calendar for any changes. […]
Category Archives: Events
Workshops, Retreats, Talks
Zen Practice from 9:00 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 7, 2026
A morning of Zen meditation practice from 9:00 am to 12 pm, Saturday, March 7, 2026. Join us in person at our Zendo or on Zoom for several sitting and walking meditations, with a break every hour. Tea will be served. Bring your own cushion or use ours. Chairs are also provided. Please RSVP; space is limited to 12 participants at the Zendo (unlimited attendance on Zoom). Please consider joining us at Siesta Beach at 6:30 am for our half-hour […]
Beyond Ideas
Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, There is a field. I’ll meet you there. When the soul lies down in that grass, The world is too full to talk about. Ideas, language, even the phrase each other Doesn’t make any sense. –Rumi Picking up the pieces As I get ready to head back to Sarasota from Asheville, North Carolina, on the first anniversary of Hurricane Helene, I am humbled to see how a gentle river of humanity has risen […]
News – Chong An Sunim is coming to OZS in May
‘Ignorance, intelligence, and insight – how to obtain who we are and find our true path.’ A talk with Chong An Sunim on Thursday evening, May 8, 2025, followed on Friday, May 9th, 2025, with a Zen Day at OZS. Thursday’s Dharma Talk will be from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Friday’s Zen Day will be from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. OZS is located at 4690 Fruitville Road, Sarasota, Florida 34232. The suggested donation for the talk is $10.00 […]
Sangha Practice for New Years Day
Join us for a sangha celebration to welcome the New Year. New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2025, 7:00 pm We will start with Zen meditation practice at 7:00 pm and end with celebrating the New Year with our community of practitioners. Please join us. You are welcome to bring a snack or treat to share, we will provide Tea. Please use the contact form to let us know you will be coming. All the Best, Abbot Will Rauschenberger
Wind Blows, Old Songs End, New Ones Begin
The Song of Liberation… Upcoming events: Winter Solstice Celebration at Siesta Public Beach. Sat, Dec 21, 2024, 6:30 AM New Year’s Day, Wednesday, January 1, 2025. Join us for our Evening Meditation, Dharma Talk, and Sangha Celebration. 7:00 PM.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Greetings, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday for many reasons! This year, I will spend it with my adult children in Maryland, so there will be no practice session on Sunday, December 1st. Speaking of Thanksgiving, OZS is made possible by our supporting members, thank you for supporting OZS! We had a wonderful 10 days with Chong An Sunim. I posted 3 Dharma Talks with Sunim from our OZS practice sessions, enjoy.
Upcoming Events – November 2024
We are pleased that Zen Master Chong An Sunim will visit OZS from Saturday, November 9th, through Sunday, November 17th. There will be many opportunities to practice with Zen Master Chong An Sunim and learn from a master deeply rooted in the tradition of Zen at our events and practice sessions. Our all-day retreat at Myakka River State Park is next Saturday, November 9th. There is still time to sign up for the retreat. Following our retreat on Sunday the […]
Don’t Miss Out On OZS Events and Sessions
We offer weekly meditation practice and Dharma talks. Our regular practice sessions continue and will be live on Zoom. I had to replace my mic to fix the audio issue of the last couple sessions. You may again join us on Zoom. Reminder: Chong An Sunim will be at our regular practice sessions on November 10, 13 and 17th. Come to our November events with Chong An Sunim! Our Silent retreat at Myakka River State park on Saturday, November 9th. […]
Upcoming Events in November
Don’t miss out! Remember you must RSVP for the Silent retreat. Come to all three events with Chong An Sunim! Our Silent retreat at Myakka River State park on Saturday, November 9th. A Talk at Fogartyville Community Media and Arts Center on Tuesday, November 12th. Sunset Full Moon Meditation at The Bay Park on Friday, November 15th.









