Questions · Announcements · Community
The clearest way to know Facing the Mountain is to practice with us. There are also several quieter ways to ask a question, stay informed, or remain connected between gatherings.
Choose the kind of connection that fits where you are now. You do not need to join every channel or turn sangha life into another stream of notifications.
Public announcements
Receive occasional emails about zazenkai, Beginner’s Night, retreats, ceremonies, schedule changes, and other public events. We send only when there is something useful to share, and you may unsubscribe at any time.
Join the announcements list →A short orientation
Short 15-minute Zoom conversations may be available for people considering a first visit or trying to understand whether our form of Zen practice is right for them. These are simple orientation conversations rather than ongoing private instruction.
Request a short conversation →Between weekly meetings
Our Discourse forum is the online companion to our in-person and Zoom practice. Because we are a floating zendo without a full-time temple building, it gives the sangha a shared place for practice questions, announcements, study discussion, event coordination, and the practical work of caring for the community between weekly meetings.
It is not social media and not another obligation. It is also not a general-interest Buddhist forum or an online social club. We use it quietly and deliberately to support actual practice and to preserve a shared record of sangha life.
Access is invite-based. It is available to people who practice with Facing the Mountain in person or online, as well as those with a teacher-approved connection to the sangha. New accounts are approved by our practice leaders so the space remains intentional and practice-centered.
Send a message
Use this form for first-visit details, retreat questions, accessibility needs, community access, giving questions, or anything not covered elsewhere on the site.
Links from the Tuesday zazenkai and retreat pages bring you directly here and select the most relevant topic when possible.
We are a small volunteer-led sangha. Replies may not be immediate, but your message will reach the people caring for the practice and community.
Thank you for reaching out to Facing the Mountain. Your message has been delivered to our contact inbox.
Our messages are read by sangha volunteers. Someone will respond as soon as reasonably possible.
For current practice dates, cancellations, and schedule changes, the live calendar remains the best source.
The clearest way to connect with Facing the Mountain is to sit with us. Beginner’s Night is the usual place to begin, and Tuesday zazenkai is the continuing center of sangha life.