“With time, your roots grow deep and your branches long. You lean a little less backward in fear and a little less forward in doubt, resting solidly right where you are. When the wind blows, you bend. When it stops, you straighten. Your boughs provide shelter and shade. Your strength supports the sky. Sitting quietly, doing nothing, spring comes and the grass grows by itself.”
Practice Groups
2nd & 4th Sundays: 11:30 a.m. - 1:00 pm
Every Wednesday 7:00 - 8:30 pm
The BIPOC Sitting Group is a space where Black, Indigenous, and People of Color can gather for spiritual practice without the judgment or curiosity of white people. Gatherings start with lightly guided Zazen for 30 minutes and then participants converse for about 60 minutes about whatever is arising from their hearts or on a topic that the facilitator might propose. Please direct questions to Carol Busshin Iwata: carol.iwata@cloudsinwater.org.
12 Step and Mindfulness Group
7:00 - 8:15 pm CT every Monday
This group is hybrid and meets on Zoom and in person. Starting December 4th, we will be meeting on Zoom only.
Please follow this link to participate on Zoom. Meeting ID: 960 4713 0774, Password: 682463.
These small Racial Awareness Groups work together to awaken to their role in perpetuating systemic racism and find ways to dismantle it. The groups focus on developing the awareness necessary to see through our individual and collective delusions and conditioning around race and move toward personal and social transformation.
Contact RAGinfo@cloudsinwater.org for more information, or to find out how to join one of the groups.
Friday Night Zen: A meditation group for people in early adulthood
1st Friday of each month, 6:30-8, with evenings typically extending until 8:30
In-person only at Clouds in Water
Friday Night Zen is a meditation group for people in early adulthood. We meet at Clouds in Water Zen Center in St. Paul on the first and third Friday of each month, from 6:30 to 8 pm, for a 30-minute partly-guided meditation. This is followed by discussion and sharing on the evening's topic, especially as it relates to the unique experiences of those in the first half of life. For new or experienced Buddhists or meditators. Evenings typically extend to 8:30 pm. for optional tea, snacks, and socializing.
Questions: jūken@cloudsinwater.org
Queer Dharma Group
3rd Friday of every month at Clouds from 6:30 - 8:30 pm
Join us for sitting, conversation, and community! All are welcome. This is free, with a request of donating what you can.
We are a peer-led group which aims to discuss the Dharma in a queer and trans context. We are open to anyone who is LGBTQIA2S+, regardless of partners, age, and identity, as well as those who feel such a group would benefit them.
We’ll meet for a meditation and a loosely guided discussion over tea and snacks.
Questions: info@cloudsinwater.org
Lovingkindness Sitting Group
2nd Thursdays, 7 - 8 pm CT, In-person only
Lovingkindness Sitting Group happens the second Thursday of each month. We start with a 25-minute guided lovingkindness (mētta) meditation offered for the well-being and happiness of ourselves and all beings, then spend the rest of the hour hanging out in conversation over tea and snacks, building connection and community in a relaxed way. If you've experienced this kind of practice, you know how healing, rejuvenating, and heart-opening it can be. If not, come see if it's for you! This is a drop-in (non-registered) offering with a suggested donation of $10.
Cisgender Allies Study Group
First Tuesdays, 5:45 - 6:45 pm (July 7, Aug 4, Sept 1, Oct 6, Nov 3, 2026)
Are you a person whose gender identity matches the gender you were assigned at birth? Are you worried for your friends, family, and sangha members who are trans, nonbinary, intersex, and/or gender-expansive who are being impacted by recent violence and genocidal government policies? Are you confused about the terms and issues, and hesitant to ask? Please join us for a little bit of education and discussion on how we can support trans, nonbinary, and intersex individuals, including promotion of acceptance, awareness, and equal rights. The erosion of rights for trans people impacts everyone.
Led by Guiding Teacher Sosan Flynn and Genshu Betzi Sherman
"Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Symbolizing the elements that create truth and beauty."
–Spock, Star Trek