Ryumonji is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple located in the beautiful rolling hills of northeast Iowa. Forty acres of land were donated in 2000 for establishing a monastery. A vibrant community of lay and ordained members, that extends over much of the country, has transformed the farmstead into a traditional Soto Zen training monastery. The buildings were constructed in accordance with standards passed down from the time of Zen in China. The land and the temple buildings reflect the spirit of “peaceful dwelling”. There are numerous practice opportunities for both lay and ordained people. We welcome anyone interested in learning about the teachings of the Buddha. There are public meditation sessions offered every Sunday morning at 9:00 a.m. and every Thursday evening at 7:30 p.m. Orientation can be given before these sittings if you are new to Ryumonji. There are monthly weekend retreats (Sesshins) . There are also extended practice periods in summer and winter (Ango). Please see the yearly calendar for dates.

Ryumonji Zen Monastery welcomes all to practice. It is Ryumonji’s policy not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs or activities.