Our Story
About Authentic Heart Zen
Our Mission and History and Purpose
To promote, to any persons of interest and to those from all backgrounds, the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha. This will be accomplished by providing education through ordained Buddhist Monks and Priests in the Japanese Sōtō Zen Buddhist tradition as well as other teachers. Authentic Heart Zen supports the spiritual health of the community through Sōtō Zen Buddhist practices including meditation and offers charitable services to support social needs dedicated to the peace of every living being.
History
Authentic Heart Zen is a non-profit religious Sōtō Zen Buddhist Organization operating in the tradition of the
Sōtō school (曹洞宗, Sōtō-shū), the largest of the three traditional sects of Zen in Japanese Buddhism. It is the Japanese line of the Chinese Cáodòng school, which was founded during the Tang dynasty (618 to 907 AD or A.C.E.) by Dòngshān Liánjiè,
aligned with the teachings of Shakyamuni Buddha
who was the founder of the Buddhist religion and lived
and taught in India in the sixth century BC or B.C.E.
Located in New Jersey, Authentic Heart Zen has its beginnings in Fall 2015 under the name Twisted River Zen and has continued under the name of Authentic Heart Zen proposed in April 2018 and instituted in February of 2019. Our organization is friendly with One Heart Zen (oneheartzen.org) of Somerville, Massachusetts, which also traces its lineage to the San Francisco Zen Center, founded by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, a Japanese Zen Master who came to America in 1962 to assist in establishing the roots of Zen in America.
Purpose
The purpose of the Organization is to share the teachings of ‘The Buddha’, the founder of Buddhism, with all people who demonstrate an interest in Buddhism and Sōtō Zen Buddhism . This includes people of all backgrounds without discrimination
in compliance with all Federal and State mandates regarding non-discriminatory policies. The primary directed action is to provide a venue for people to practice Zen meditation and to spread awareness of this practice with the public, as well as support its own practice community.
The Organization will also provide a venue for ancillary practitioners, e.g., yoga, Tai Chi, etc., to practice while supporting the Organization. All of this will be accomplished with strict adherence to the guiding principles of Zen Buddhism: To do no harm while only doing good. In this way the Organization shall demonstrate continuous support for the well-being of all of its members and the community at large.