Dai Bosatsu Zendo, Catskills
Zen mastered: an enlightening Japanese monastery in the Catskills.

From the March 24, 2003 Issue of New York

For those who wish to expand their spiritual searchings beyond the wall of “Eastern Philosophy” books at Barnes & Noble, the Dai Bosatsu Zendo, deep in the Catskills, offers authentic Rinzai Zen training during “Introduction to Zen” weekends. Built in 1976 by Zen master Eido Shimano, the Zendo, with its traditional wood-and-stone architecture, seems transported from medieval Japan. Remember, this is a monastery, not a B&B: Visitors get a simple room (with a futon), vegetarian meals (tasty ones, eaten in silence in the traditional Zen manner), and friendly instruction on how to locate their Buddha nature (bring loose clothing). Should you discover that sitting on a little black pillow staring at the floor isn’t your thing, hiking through the 1,400-acre preserve can lead to its own epiphanies.

-- Charles M. Young