Beginner's Mind Zen Center is a neighborhood zendo in a quiet residential area near California State University at Northridge. It offers lay practitioners and interested individuals a daily program of meditation in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition as transmitted by Shunryu Suzuki-roshi.
The name comes from the Zen Buddhist term “beginner’s mind,” which describes an openness, eagerness and lack of preconception in living one’s life.

All are welcome to practice zen meditation at Beginner’s Mind. No membership is required to participate.

Activities include daily zazen and services, reading and discussion of key Buddhist texts, intensive pactice periods (sesshins) led by experienced teachers of Soto Zen Buddhism. The center also offers public talks by visiting Buddhist scholar and teachers from other Soto Zen centers.

The center was started in 2004 by Peter and Jane Schneider, long time students of Shunryu Suzuki.

Beginner’s Mind Zen Center is affiliated with the San Francisco Zen Center through Branching Streams, a federation of smaller zen practice groups in the Suzuki-roshi lineage.


Tea after Saturday Zazen
Tea after Saturday zazen at Beginner's Mind Zen Center