Center for Pragmatic Buddhism
Life is our monastery.
Pragmatic Buddhism is mindfulness made meaningful for today’s world — an empirical, practicable action plan for cultivating skillful living.
Awareness
Zazen — just sitting in mindfulness — trains a calm, non-judgmental attention to the present moment.
Read more →Acceptance
Seeing things as they are: interconnected, interdependent, impermanent. The middle way between extremes.
Read more →Action
Practice doesn't end on the cushion. We carry mindfulness into daily life, work, relationships, and community.
Read more →What we’re about
Your life can be your monastery.
Pragmatic Buddhism is the progeny of the Buddhist evolution embodied by Chan and Zen, interpreted through the lens of American Pragmatism. We use modern-day language to explain Buddhism’s relevance to contemporary life.
In addition to regular sitting and meditation, our teachers offer weekly dharma talks and open-forum group discussions, where participants explore practice, philosophy, and everyday life.
Practice with us
In person and online
CPB has in-person meditation and discussion groups across the U.S., the U.K., and online.
“The highest motive is to be like water. Water is necessary to all living beings, yet asks nothing in return; it flows humbly to the lowest level. May we all learn the Way of Water.”
— Ryugen Fisher (Shi Shen Long)