Our Vision

Motivated by the need for a sustainable relationship with the earth as we are faced with a changing climate, Zen meditation is a way to experience the interdependence of life by opening ourselves to connect beyond the limitations of our individuality. By recognizing that healing starts from within, we can focus our collective effort on restoring the awareness of our innate connection with life together. By adopting this way of practice, we can contribute to the transformation of the local community.

Our Mission

We believe that acting locally while maintaining a global vision can affect the direction of change toward inner transformation. We do this by facilitating opportunities and offering resources for Zen meditation practice through Dharma Discussions, Zazen, Workshops, and Retreats. Our offerings aim to foster harmony within the community where our interdependence is not just talked about, but can be experienced by anyone regardless of belief, tradition, culture, or personal affiliation.

Who We Are

Abbeya Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to establish and maintain a supportive spiritual community in Bemidji, MN rooted in Zen Buddhism. The name Abbeya is a transliteration of the Sanskrit word ‘Abhaya’ which means fearlessness. By experiencing the nature of who we already are, we can fearlessly contribute to the world through sustainable action that affects the direction of change toward inner transformation. When we define Zen as being concerned with action in the world, Zen meditation practice informs how we live our daily lives from engaging in regular sitting meditation to mindfulness in our daily activities. At the root of Zen practice is the courage to deeply listen to ourselves and the needs of others to deepen an awareness of our innate connection with life.

Our Values

Our values are based on the Six Paramitas, a guide of ethical principles for conduct in Zen practice.

1. Generosity (Dana):

We believe that to give back to the community we must first open ourselves with the courage to engage in deep listening to the needs of others. With our resources, time, and care, our contribution can help to support the well-being of the community.

 2. Ethics (Sila):

We maintain ethical standards guided by a clear need for environmental and social action starting with us as individuals. In all aspects of our work, we maintain high ethical conduct grounded in integrity, honesty, and moral responsibility. By refraining from any kind of harmful action, we value transparency and accountability in guiding our interactions with practitioners and the wider community.

 3. Patience (Kshanti):

We recognize the value of patience in building long-term relationships and cultivating a sustainable community. We practice patience in the face of challenges, valuing open-mindedness, deep listening, and understanding different perspectives. We foster an environment where patience is encouraged, enabling inner transformation and individual responsibility.

 4. Diligence (Virya):

We are dedicated to our practice as a daily commitment. We embrace perseverance and faith in our dedication to benefiting the welfare of others. We aspire for deep transformation and to share how we can experience living with life harmoniously.

 5. Concentration (Dhyana):

We value focused attention and mindfulness in our work. By cultivating a calm and focused mind, we engage creatively in making clear decisions that fulfill our overall vision. We encourage practices such as meditation and mindfulness that promote inner-transformation and wellbeing and enable us to collectively experience living consciously toward all aspects of life.

 6. Wisdom (Prajna):

In order to know how to respond in the world, we emphasize the importance of wisdom in guiding our actions and decision-making. We value learning, non-discriminative observation, and the pursuit of wisdom to navigate complex challenges and make informed choices.

By embracing these values inspired by the Six Paramitas, Abbeya Foundation aspires to make accessible the teachings of Zen for collective transformation by valuing the virtue of practice. We aim to cultivate a community that fosters harmony through ethical engagement in society and make a meaningful contribution to the well-being of any individual regardless of belief, tradition, culture, or personal affiliation. These values serve as guiding principles for our actions and interactions, motivated by a need for sustainable action in the world informed by the interdependent nature of life.