

Please join us on Sunday, March 8, from 6:30-8:30pm in the Kiva at True Nature for an exploration of the history, teachings, and practices of Zen Buddhism. Whether you’re simply curious about Zen or looking to deepen your meditation practice, this program offers a supportive foundation your inquiry. It also serves as an ideal introduction for those interested in deeper practice with Roaring Fork Zen during our weekly meditation sessions at True Nature.

Please join our sangha in the Kiva at True Nature Healing Arts in Carbondale, CO, on Mondays from 8-9am for two, 25-minute rounds of Zen meditation, with walking meditation (kinhin) in between. We open and close with brief recitations of traditional Zen texts. A short encouragement talk is offered at the beginning of the second round. No advanced registration is necessary.

Also in the Kiva at True Nature Healing Arts, our weekly Wednesday evening Zen meditation runs from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. Similar to Monday, we begin with a brief recitation followed by two 25-minute rounds of Zen meditation, with walking meditation in between. A brief encouragement talk is offered at the beginning of the second round. No advanced registration is necessary.

If you are new to Roaring Fork Zen, you are heartily invited to review our practice guide in advance to familiarize yourself with the modest rituals we practice to uphold the spirit of this ancient tradition. We also offer suggested reading and a primer on 'zendo etiquette,' all of which is warmly provided to support the settling of your body, heart, and mind. You're also invited to reserve time for personalized meditation instruction before one of our regularly scheduled sessions.
We are looking forward to hosting a half-day silent meditation retreat in the Kiva at True Nature on Saturday, April 18, from 9am-2pm. This retreat will feature extended rounds of walking meditation, a brief talk with opportunities for questions and comments, and a lunch break in the True Nature Peace Garden. More details and a registration link will be available soon!
Roaring Fork Zen (RFZ) is a new Zen meditation community based at True Nature Healing Arts in Carbondale, CO. We are a 501c3 nonprofit charity dedicated to providing free authentic Zen instruction and practice to the Roaring Fork Valley from Glenwood Springs to Aspen.
RFZ is affiliated with the Zen Center of Denver, which was commissioned by Philip Kapleau and is part of the Diamond and White Plum sanghas in the Harada-Yasutani style of American Zen.
We offer weekly zazen (seated meditation) sessions on Mondays from 8-9am and Wednesday evenings from 7:30-8:30pm in the Kiva at True Nature Healing Arts. Feel free to email us with any questions you may have. Whether you are a long-time practitioner or a brand-new beginner, you are perfectly welcome and honored here.

Our affiliate at the Zen Center of Denver provides valuable resources and recordings to help you embark on your journey into Zen meditation. Additionally, we offer suggestions for reading on Zen, Buddhism, and meditation, along with a compilation of core texts that reflect the core teachings of Zen.

In the Zen tradition, we follow some basic forms to help us settle, honor our practice, and co-create a Buddhist community of peace and curiosity. At True Nature Healing Arts, we are keeping this very simple to help all participants feel at home while engaging in Zen meditation.

At RFZ, awakening is incomplete unless it manifests through acts of compassion and service. We participate in volunteer outings to build community and embody the wisdom of our ancient tradition. Recent outings have included serving meals to the unhoused in Glenwood Springs and leading meditation at the Garfield County Jail.
Dana is the Buddhist practice of giving. RFZ warmly welcomes your generosity, though it is not required. We have no overhead expenses, and all donations are used to cover the cost of renting our beautiful space in the Kiva at True Nature Healing Arts, a location we are fortunate to access at a steeply discounted rate, thanks to the kindness of the Connection is the Medicine Foundation.
As a registered 501c3 organization, your contribution is tax-deductible, and you will receive a receipt for your donation. Our federal tax ID number is 39-2097759. We offer warm bows of gratitude for your consideration and support.
Billy Wynne serves as the facilitator of Roaring Fork Zen, a vital part of the Buddhist community. A long-time member of the Zen Center of Denver (ZCD), he received lay ordination, known as jukai, in 2020 and currently sits on the ZCD Board. With the permission of his teacher, Peggy Metta Sheehan Roshi, and the RFZ Board, which includes Karin Ryuku Kempe Roshi, Billy founded Roaring Fork Zen. Peggy and Karin are the Spiritual Directors of the Zen Center of Denver.
Billy is also a certified mindfulness meditation teacher in the Insight tradition under Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, and he has authored The Empty Path: Finding Fulfillment Through the Radical Art of Lessening, published by New World Library in March 2025. As a health and well-being entrepreneur, he founded Awake, an alcohol-free bar in Denver, and Impact Health, a mission-driven consultancy focused on enhancing wellness.
Additionally, Billy has served on several boards, including Operation Smile, LIFT-UP, 365Health, Cherish Children Adoption International, and Colorado's Natural Medicine Advisory Board. He holds a BA from Dartmouth College, a JD from the University of Virginia, and is currently pursuing an MA in Buddhist Studies from the Institute of Buddhist Studies.
Billy resides in Carbondale, CO, with his wife, son, and two shih-poos, Oscar and Archie. Their daughter is in college. You can learn more about Billy here.

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