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• Flower Garland Buddhism and the Modern World

  • When
    05/23/2026
  •  
    6:00 PM - 7:30 PM
  • Location
    Online via Zoom (Eastern Time)

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  About this event:
  

  How can Buddhist teachings help us live with more clarity, connection, and compassion in a divided world?
  
  This talk introduces the heart of Flower Garland (Huayan) Buddhism in a clear and practical way. At its core, this tradition teaches that everything is deeply connected and that our everyday lives, relationships, and communities all matter.
  
  Rev. Ben Connelly will share how these teachings can guide us in responding to real-life challenges, drawing from his recent experiences supporting community-based, nonviolent responses in Minneapolis. These efforts are part of a broader pattern of community care and mutual support that has emerged in response to recent violent ICE actions and their impact on local communities .
  
  The session will include time for reflection, conversation, and questions, offering participants a chance to connect the teachings to their own lives and experiences.
  
  
  

  Location and schedule:
  

  The event is online-only via Zoom.
  

  Saturday, May 23, 2026
  6:00 pm- 7:30 pm Eastern Time (Click here for a time converter.)

  
  Fees:

  The Soto Zen Buddhist Association relies on the generosity of its supporters to offer programming.  All fees offered through registration will be shared with speakers and panelists. We suggest a sliding scale registration fee of $10-15 for online participation. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds.

  
  About the speaker:

  Rev. Ben Connelly is the guiding teacher of the Minnesota Zen Meditation Center. He also teaches mindfulness in a wide variety of secular contexts including police training and addiction recovery groups, and works with multi faith groups focused on social and climate justice.

  Ben travels to teach across the United States, has written for Tricycle and Lion’s Roar magazines, and is author of Inside the Grass Hut, Inside Vasubandhu's Yogacara, Mindfulness and Intimacy, Vasubandhu's "Three Natures", and Inside the Flower Garland Sutra.

  
  
  

  This event is supported by the Hemera Foundation, the Frederick P. Lenz Foundation for American Buddhism and the generosity of our community.
  
  

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• 2026 SZBA Conference

  • Start
    09/23/2026
  •  
    2:00 PM
  • End
    09/26/2026
  •  
    11:00 AM
  • Location
    Pendle Hill, Wallingford, Pennsylvania
  • Spaces left
    70

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  Soto Zen Buddhist Association · Biennial Conference

  Meeting the Moment Through
  Dogen's Timeless Teachings

  2026 SZBA Conference

  Dates September 23–26, 2026

  Venue Pendle Hill Retreat Center

  Location Wallingford, Pennsylvania

  Giving  ·  Achieving the Same Aim  ·  Kind Speech  ·  Beneficial Action

  We are delighted to announce that the 2026 Soto Zen Buddhist Association Biennial Conference will be held at Pendle Hill Retreat Center in Wallingford, Pennsylvania, September 23–26, 2026.

  This gathering invites our community to reflect deeply on how we can serve others and strengthen our sanghas in a time of profound change. Guided by Dogen's Four Beneficial Actions, the conference will offer space for ceremony, dialogue, and creative engagement. Together, we will explore practical tools for supporting sangha life, share inspiring perspectives, and co-create opportunities for connection and renewal as we envision the future of Zen in America.

  Highlights include a keynote address by Jan Willis on Acquiring and Practicing the Skills of Nonviolence, daily zazen, Open Spaces sessions, multi-track workshops and Zed Talks, a Dharma Heritage Ceremony, and an evening Talent Show. The conference committee is working to create a space that is engaging, supportive, and welcoming to all — a true opportunity to come together with friends in the Dharma.

  

  Keynote Speaker

  Jan Willis

  Acquiring and Practicing the Skills of Nonviolence

  Thursday, September 24  ·  4:30–6:00 pm
  Theme: Four Beneficial Actions & Engaged Buddhism

  $500 Full Registration
  Includes accommodations, meals, and all conference sessions and materials.

  $175 Day Pass
  All 3 days — sessions and meals included. No overnight lodging.

  Registration Notes

  • Registration includes accommodations, meals, and all conference sessions and materials.
  • Registration deadline: August 24, 2026.
  • Please note any special dietary or accessibility needs in the registration form when prompted.
  • If you need financial assistance, please register using the "need to pay less" ticket. We will contact you with more information about what support is available.
  • We are deeply grateful to those who are able to pay more to help others attend!

  Refund Policy

  We ask our members to communicate with us as soon as possible if there is a need for cancellation. For cancellations before the registration deadline of August 24, 2026, the SZBA charges a 5% processing fee. No refunds are available after August 24, 2026.

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  Conference Planning Committee Doshin Mark Turbak (chair)  ·  Dharma-Joy Reichert  ·  Teresa Bouza  ·  Meredith Seaborn  ·  Kigen Anna Breckenridge

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