Be a Formal Participant in Ango

Events are open to all, formal participation in ango is optional.

Contact Zuisei if interested in taking part in Ango at OMS.

Register here for the Buddhist Study Series. Required for Ango participants, open to all.

In-person Oct 22-25 Sesshin (Open to all, apply here)

Scroll below for 2026 Fall Ango Schedule.

If you would like to take part in ango formally, contact OMS Guiding Teacher Zuisei Goddard here. Fall Ango 2026 opens September 30 with the first session of the Buddhist Study Series: Koan Practice for Real Life. See full ANGO SCHEDULE.

Ango is an extended, intensive, practice period engaged by Buddhist sanghas around the world in the Spring and Fall of each year. It is a time to come together to support one another in deepening spiritual practice. This tradition, celebrating both community and turning inward, began in the time of the Buddha—learn about the history of this tradition here.

Committing to Ango Practice

To support the intense nature of ango, participants at OMS are asked to reflect on and commit to how they will intensify their Buddhist practice during this time, and to share this with Guiding Teacher Zuisei. Their ango committment is meant to be tailored to what will be most helpful for them during this time.

The one requirement for everyone is the four-part Buddhist Study Series. This fall Zuisei will lead the study of Guo Go’s Passing Through the Gateless Barrier: Koan Practice for Real Life. This series like all events during ango, is open to all—you do not have to be an ango participant to attend the series or any other event at OMS.

Buddhist Study Series

Buddhist Study Series Participants are required to attend the four-part online Buddhist Study Series on Guo Go’s Passing Through the Gateless Barrier: Koan Practice for Real Life. Registration is open throughout the series and recordings are available for any missed sessions.

Fall Sesshin

In-person Sesshin: October 22-25 As an online sangha, the biannual In-person Sesshins are the only in-person events held at OMS, and they take place every ango in New York. These silent retreats are open to all, though ango participant registration is prioritized.

Private Teaching

Private Teaching Participants are required to commit to at least one session of Private Teaching with Zuisei.

Above are all excellent opportunities to structure and intensify practice. Participants are also welcome to join OMS for Daily Zazen and Evening Zazen and extended periods of sitting like Half-Day Sit, as well as the Dharma Encounter that is part of our In-person Sesshin.

Ango Offline

Sitting for longer or more frequent periods, engaging in a separate study of a Buddhist text, committing to silent, mindful meals are a few examples of the ways in which we can choose to intensify our practice offline. Everyone is encouraged to choose or create a practice that is meaningful to their own path. Every moment and every activity is an opportunity for rich spiritual practice. Listen to this talk by Zuisei on the Power of Bow for an example of how even a simple act may become a powerful, transformative practice.

The biannual In-person Sesshins are the only offline events held at OMS, taking place every ango from Thursday to Sunday. Together the sangha sits six to eight hours of zazen daily, and engages in oryoki, Buddhist liturgy, private interview (daisan) with Zuisei, and more. These silent retreats are open to all, though ango participant registration is prioritized. Click below to learn more.

Buddhist Study Series (First Day of Ango)
Passing Through the Gateless Barrier: Koan Practice for Real Life
Wednesdays, 7–9 pm, September 30, October 7, 14 &28

The series will focus on the dharma text Passing Through the Gateless Barrier:
Koan Practice for Real Life by Guo Go. Required for Ango Participants. The first session on September 30 opens ango, and the last session on October 28 closes ango.

Register

In-person Fall Sesshin
Thursday, October 22, 6 pm–Sunday, October 25, 12 pm

Register

Daily Morning Zazen
Monday to Friday, 6:30 am–7:30 am

Register

Evening Zazen
Tuesdays and *Thursdays, 7–8 pm
*Daisan on Thursdays
Uses the Daily Zazen Zoom link.

Saturday Morning Zazen (Ango Practice)
Saturdays, October 17, 9–10:15 am

Register

Private Teaching with Zuisei
See Schedule
and during Thursday Evening Zazen

Register

Fall Ango closes on October 28, 2026 with the last session of the Buddhist Study Series: Koan Practice for Real Life.

If you would like to take part in ango formally or learn more about ango at OMS contact OMS Guiding Teacher Zuisei Goddard here.

What is Ango?

During the time of the Buddha, and coinciding with India’s monsoon season, the sangha paused their wandering to come together for shelter, support, and practice. Together, they were protected from the rains, in community and under the Buddha’s guidance. The monks and lay practitioners celebrated this period by turning inward and intensifying their spiritual practice. In the years that followed, Buddhists in China, Japan, and beyond continued this cyclical form of practice called ango, “peaceful dwelling.”

Why Practice Ango Today?

With this schedule, the intensity of a year of Buddhist practice ebbs and flows, moving from the intensive focus of ango to a more open and active awareness and back again, each period supporting the other. Likewise, sitting practice (zazen) encourages us to remain present and aware in our daily activity, and vice versa. Over time, we see that this cyclical rhythm is essential to deepen our awareness, and also to keep our practice balanced and grounded.

To learn more about why we continue this practice today, and about the role of the shuso or chief disciple during ango, listen to the talk below by by Guiding Teacher Zuisei Goddard. The video of this talk, transcript, and related resources to explore, are available here.

Dharma Encounter

A Dharma Encounter is an intimate meeting between the teacher and sangha and a live, spontaneous engagement of the dharma. It takes the directness of daisan (private interview) and opens it up so everyone can learn from the exchanges between teacher and students, helping to test and sharpen their understanding and realization of the dharma. Encounters are modeled on the Chan tradition of Dharma Combat between Buddhist masters and their disciples in 9th century China.

OMS offers a Dharma Encounter during each ango during the In-person Sesshin. In the audio above, Zuisei and the sangha engage in an encounter, delving into the teachings of the bodhisattva Vimalakirti. Watch a video of this encounter here. Dharma Encounters often engage the subject of the Buddhist Study Series, which changes each season.

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