The Zen Center of Los Angeles was founded in 1967 by Taizan Maezumi Roshi, a seminal figure in the transmission of Zen Buddhism to the West. It is one of the first residential Zen centers established in the United States.

The Center has three primary components:

Zen Center of Los Angeles

Our umbrella organization which oversees governance, membership, maintenance of buildings and grounds, and legal and fiscal matters. ZCLA is incorporated as a 501(c)3 California non-profit religious and educational institution and abides by requirements set forth by the State of California.

Buddha Essence Temple (Busshin-ji)

The temple conducts Buddhist services and liturgical study, including rituals that honor life's passages. Although Busshin-ji is a registered Soto Zen Temple with the Japanese Soto Zen Sect, it functions independently.

Normandie Mountain

Our training component derives its name from Normandie Avenue, which leads to our front gate. It is an ancient Chinese Zen tradition to name a training place after its geographic location. Geographically, Normandie Mountain is a small hill in metropolitan Los Angeles; spiritually, it is a great mountain. Zen training—awakened living—is the heart of Normandie Mountain.