Regular subscribers to The Zen Gateway newsletter will know that we’re about to create an online dharma centre, a site we’re calling The Zen Gateway Community.

In early 2020 we conducted a survey of subscribers and found that half of you had no access to a local Buddhist group, temple or dharma centre. It occurred to us that we might fill this gap by creating a community site that would act like a local Buddhist group. 

Since the Zen Gateway’s inception in 2012, we have sought to provide online access to high quality Buddhist teaching and resources, and to offer a wider audience the chance to both study and practice Buddhist teachings. We see the opening of The Zen Gateway Community site as a natural next step.

The Zen Gateway will continue to supply dharma teachings, articles, podcasts, reviews, news and other items of interest for individuals and groups. It remains free of charge.

In addition the Zen Community site will offer:

• Courses - in-depth study and practice of all aspects of the teachings, covering early and later teachings as well as focusing on teachings belonging specifically to the Zen school.
  

• Tutorials - concurrent with each course will be an opportunity for live tutorials. Members will interact directly with a teacher, who will be available for Q&As as well as in-depth discussion about the course material.
  

• Live zazen - meditation sessions streamed especially for Zen Community members
  

• Face-to-face with a teacher -  your opportunity to ask questions about your own practice
  to an experienced Zen teacher

• Interaction with other Zen Community members via our private messaging channel.
  

• Dharma Talks & Workshops designed specifically for Zen Community members

From 1st February 2022, access to the Zen Community website will be through the top navigation button on the Zen Gateway homepage (www.thezengateway.com). On the Zen Community homepage you will find another button enabling you to sign-up. As with an in-person Buddhist group there are overheads that need to be paid for so we’re asking for Zen Community members to pay a membership fee of £7.50 per month. This covers only our direct costs for the website, and includes IT support, platform subs and content creation. You also have the option to pay annually, which means that you will receive twelve months membership for the price of ten. In any event the first payment is taken only after a 30 day free-trial.You can cancel your membership at anytime.

If there are those who want to become Zen Community members but cannot afford the fees, please email us stating your circumstances and we will submit your application to our Dharma Fund, which has been set up to help. It’s our hope that all serious students of the Dharma will be able to practice, in company with others, whatever their circumstances. All you need is internet access,  together with a willingness to walk the Buddha’s ancient path and explore the vast potential of the human heart.

May all beings be happy!  May all attain Buddhahood!

Martin Goodson - co-founder of the Zen Gateway