Clear Mountain Zen Center
80 Pompton Avenue, Verona, NJ 07044
The Montclair, NJ Clear Mountain Zen Center was founded many years ago by Carl Bachmann (Sensei), Deb Baretz, Ray Cicetti and John Flynn (deceased). Our teacher is Roshi Robert Kennedy, S.J. of the White Plum Asanga. We are led by Carl Bachmann, Sensei (teacher), Dharma Holder in the White Plum Lineage, and Jeff Kuschner, Densu (zendo administrator, master of ceremony, hospitality leader, head monk). We welcome all who are interested in the practice of zen meditation, regardless of formal faith affiliation.
Schedule
We meet for zazen (sitting meditation) Sunday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m., The Sunday service includes four 25 minute periods of zazen each separated by a five minute kinhin (walking meditation) period. On most Sundays there is a brief talk on zen practice and daisan (Private interview with the teacher). There is a chant service at the end of the last meditation period on the first and last Sunday of the month. Finally, twice a month there is a discussion on a reading that has been assigned.
Events and notices
We hope to schedule zazenkai (one day sittings) and sponsor guest speakers and poetry readings in the near future.
Directions
80 Pompton Avenue is a small office building along the southbound lanes of Pompton Avenue in Verona, NJ. It is located in a suite on the second floor of the building. Access to the building requires a door code. Please contact the zendo to arrange for a visit, email to montclairzendo@gmail.com
Leadership
Carl Bachmann is a senior student of Roshi Robert Kennedy, and was installed as a Sensei by Roshi Kennedy in December, 2011. He previously studied with Roshi Bernie Glassman and has been a practitioner of Zen for over 20 years. He is an administrator in Social Services and is a psychotherapist in private practice. Jeff Kuschner is an attorney and long-time Montclair resident and zen practitioner.
Guiding Teacher: Robert Kennedy, S.J., Roshi
Robert Kennedy directs a number of communities practicing interfaith zen in the metro New York-New Jersey-Connecticut area, all facilitated by his zen students. He teaches Theology at St. Peters College in Jersey City, NJ and is a psychotherapist in private practice. He is the author of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit and Zen Gifts to Christians. He was ordained a priest in Japan in 1965 and studied zen with Yamada Roshi in Japan, Maezumi Roshi in Los Angeles, and Glassman Roshi in New York and is part of the White Plum Asanga lineage. In 1991 he was installed as a Sensei and was given the honorific title Roshi in 1997.
Links
Robert Kennedy, Morning Star Zendo, Jersey City, NJ
White Plains Zen, White Plains, NY
Ray Cicetti, Empty Bowl Zendo, Morristown, NJ
Joan Hoeberichts, Heart Circle Sangha, Ridgewood, NJ
Dennis Keegan, Empty Hand Zendo, Basking Ridge, NJ
Our NEW WEB SITE, Clear Mountain Zen Center, Montclair
Contact us
Carl Bachmann, Sensei and Jeff Kuschner, Head Monk: montclairzendo@gmail.com
We welcome all of your comments and suggestions.
This is our "classic" web page, last updated January 2024.
Our more extensive web site can be found at www.clearmountainzen.org