Ordinary Mind Zen School Sydney, located in North Sydney, offers a Zen Buddhist approach to cultivating mindful awareness and presence in the activities of daily life.
It is open to beginner and experienced practitioners and people of all traditions. The group is evolving a style of Zen Buddhism that is adapted to Western temperaments and ways of life but maintains the rigour and discipline of its traditional roots.
We offer meditation two times a week and one day or half day sittings (zazenkai) regularly on the last Sunday of the month at the centre in North Sydney. We also offer multi-day meditation intensives (sesshin) two times a year (2025/2026 Sesshin Dates) at Stroud Monastery.
Before visiting the centre on a Tues evening, please contact our teacher, Geoff Dawson, to arrange an interview at 6.15pm to get a feel for the centre and speak about procedures.
OMZS Sangha
Everyone is invited to participate in supporting activities of the OMZS Sangha. As members of the OMZS Sangha we all support each other in our practice - at regular Tuesday and Friday morning meditation sessions, at monthly zazenkai and during the easter and spring sesshins at Stroud Monastery. An important aspect is the organisational work behind the scenes that helps make the Ordinary Mind Zen School run smoothly.
Our Teacher
Geoff Dawson is a Dharma Successor of Charlotte Joko Beck and the teacher of the Ordinary Mind Zen School, Sydney. He began the school in 1998 and received Dharma Transmission in 2003.
He has been studying and practising Zen Buddhism since 1975 and was one of the founders of Zen in Australia. He has also presented at many seminars and conferences in Australia on Buddhism and Psychotherapy.
Geoff Dawson is also a registered psychologist. He works in full time private practice at North Sydney.
He provides adult psychotherapy, couples therapy, family therapy and clinical supervision that is integrated into a Buddhist perspective.
The Ten Zen Precepts
By Geoff Dawson