As We See It

The Zen Center of Las Vegas faces an uncertain future

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Thom Pastor meditates inside the Zen Center of Las Vegas
Photo: Leila Navidi

The Zen Center of Las Vegas has been teaching people how to think outside of themselves for 21 years, so you’ll have to excuse it for diverting some focus back to itself. The not-so-Zen situation is this: the center is a nonprofit solely run by unpaid volunteers, and its east-side space was recently listed for sale by the owners.

“The asking price is unaffordable for us. Hence, we are month-to-month until the property is sold,” says Zen Master Ji Haeng (translation: “Wisdom Action”), founder of the Kwan Um School of Zen-affiliated meditation center. Now that it must prepare for a costly relocation, it has launched a donation campaign through the YouCaring website, aiming for $10,000 by the July 1 deadline. Only a fifth of the needed funds have been pledged, so if you’re feeling mindful or generous, visit youcaring.com and search for Zen Center of Las Vegas. Regardless of what happens, Ji Haeng says the congregation (or sangha) of approximately 40 will still exist, though “how that takes shape remains to be seen.”

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