Detroit Zen Center is a community established in 1990.  We are a US branch of Sudeok-sa -- a major temple in Korea founded in the 6th century -- affiliated with 400 temples and zen centers, and 12,000 monastics world-wide.  Our founding teacher is Hwalson Sunim, a monk with extensive training in the US, Canada, and Korea. He opened this Zen Center at the direction of his master, Wondam Sunim.

Our mission is to provide a place for the study and practice of Zen in the West.  Monks and their students live on site, working and guiding a daily schedule of meditation, meals and building/garden/caretaking projects.  We are supported through the financial and physical work of our monks, members and students, as well as guests and public donations.

For the public we offer Guided Zen sessions on Sundays, Intro to Zen Courses, Dharma Talks, guest retreat lodging, gardens & occasional special events.  For students we offer a regular schedule of meditation, formal and informal meetings with the teachers, talks, retreats and apprenticeship.  A path to become a lay Dharma teacher or monastic is available here. 

To explore, please attend a Sunday Guided Zen session, or another public event on the Calendar page, or take a look at our journey map page.  We foster an urban ecological stewardship initiative site-wide:  Shine One Corner.  Our buildings were formerly abandoned.  Our community models composting, recycling, reclamation, green roofs & bioretention (rain) gardens.  The 'Peace Garden' is open daily, converted from a vacant lot that was a former disposal site for junked cars.