about zen
Zen is the largest form of Buddhism practiced in Japan. The word "Zen" is the Japanese transliteration of the Chinese "Chan" which is itself a transliteration of the Sanskrit "dhyana" meaning meditation. The words Zen itself showing the history of this spiritual practice and religion.
Red Cedar Zen Community practices in the Soto Zen way as transmitted to America by the Japanese Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki Roshi in the late 1950's (Wikipedia article on Suzuki roshi), founder of San Francisco Zen Center as further modified over 30 years of practice at SF Zen Center's 3 practice centers (City Center, Green Gulch Farm, Tassajara Zen Monastery) and futher adjusted and simplified by our guiding teacher Zoketsu Norman Fischer (Norman's Everyday Zen Foundation, Wikipedia article on Norman).
Zen practice is both rooted in tradition and a dynamic and changing form as it integrates with American culture.