Clouds in Water Zen Center

Clouds in Water is a vibrant and inclusive community in the Soto Zen tradition, with a vision to awaken the heart of great wisdom and compassion, end systemic oppression, and cultivate joy. 

Clouds in Water Zen Center is a sangha in the Sōtō Zen Buddhist lineage of Dainin Katagiri. We are a community whose offerings include meditation, classes, talks, one-to-one meetings with teachers, affinity groups, Zen training, and retreats as a practice of Soto Zen Buddhism and social justice. We welcome people of all backgrounds and faiths. We are located in the historic Rondo Neighborhood, on unceded Dakota and Anishinaabe land in St. Paul, MN, and everywhere via Zoom.

We wish you ease and care as we move forward together in these difficult times. 

This year, our Spring Appeal is the Third Annual Sit-a-Thon 2026!

Sit for Something

A 24-Hour Community Sit-a-thon
10:30 am on Saturday, May 30th to 10:30am on Sunday, May 31st. 

What if stillness could change the world?

For 24 hours, our community will gather in meditation to raise support for the work of Clouds in Water Zen Center. Participants will sit, breathe, and dedicate their practice to something meaningful—peace, healing, justice, community, or the simple wish for a kinder world.

This is our Sit-a-thon: Sit for Something.

Just as runners gather for a marathon or walk for a cause, we are inviting practitioners and supporters to sit for a cause. Through meditation, we embody the values we want to see in the world—compassion, steadiness, and presence.

And through community support, we sustain a spiritual home where people can practice together

We have a matching grant opportunity of $500 each for people who are setting up pledge pages for the first time. This means that donations you receive on your page will be matched dollar for dollar up to the first $500!

Our goal is $50,000. Thanks to generous donors, we have a dollar for dollar match for every dollar raised during the Sit-a-thon.

Why We Sit

Meditation is often quiet and unseen work, but its impact reaches far beyond the meditation hall. When we sit together, we cultivate:

• Peace in a restless world

• Compassion for ourselves and others

• Wisdom that guides our actions

• Community rooted in care and belonging

This Sit-a-thon is both a spiritual practice and a collective act of generosity.

Sit for Something

Participants are invited to dedicate their practice to something that matters to them.

You might sit for:

• Peace

• Love

• Community

• Healing

• Justice

• Gratitude

• Those who are suffering

• The wellbeing of our world

When you support a sitter, you support both their intention and the community that sustains this practice.

Our Goal

Together, we are raising $50,000 to support the programs and operations of Clouds in Water Zen Center.

Your donation helps sustain:

• Meditation instruction and Dharma teachings

• Community practice opportunities

• Interfaith and community partnerships

• A welcoming refuge for spiritual practice in our city

• The next generation of practitioners and teachers

Every gift helps keep the doors open for anyone seeking stillness, wisdom, and belonging.

How You Can Participate

Sponsor a Sitter

Support someone who is sitting for a cause they care about.

Make a Donation

Give directly to support the Sit-a-thon and the ongoing work of the center.

Share the Practice

Invite friends and family to support the event and the spirit behind it.

A Simple Practice, A Powerful Impact

In a noisy world, sitting still can be a radical act.

Each breath.
Each moment of awareness.
Each act of generosity.

Together they create something powerful.

Sit for Something.

Donate today and support a community dedicated to mindfulness, compassion, and awakening.

About Clouds in Water
Clouds in Water Zen Center is a vibrant urban community in the Soto Zen Buddhist tradition dedicated to awakening the heart of great wisdom and compassion. Located in the Frogtown neighborhood of Saint Paul, we welcome people of all backgrounds and faiths. As a non-profit organization, we operate primarily on donations and no one is turned away for lack of funds for any of our classes, retreats, or events.

Why Support Our Work?
While the Twin Cities has several Zen Buddhist communities, Clouds in Water Zen Center is unique in advancing a broad social justice and racial justice agenda informed and supported by Zen philosophy and frameworks.

Clouds is passionate about creating and maintaining a thriving sangha that celebrates diversity and inclusion. From our services and classes throughout the week to our LGBTQ support, BIPOC sitting group, Racial Awareness Groups, Friday Night Zen, 12-Step Mindfulness Group, Youth & Family Program, and more. 

Thank you very much—we bow to you in gratitude!