Step by step in the dark,
if my foot’s not wet I’ve found the stone
About The Zendo
The Zendo is a formal Zen practice centre in the heart of London Ontario. We are a not-for-profit organization striving to fulfill our vow to awaken all beings of the world. While small, it provides a warm dedicated space for our journey to discover the world as it is and find our true home in it.
Zen is an experiential practice. It is a path of becoming intimately aligned with the world and all beings. While books, podcasts, or lectures are interesting and informative, they will fall short of allowing you to experience it for yourself. Zen is a deeply intimate approach that must be experienced individually. We support each other by practicing, in sitting meditation, together as a community; there is a wonderful warmth, steadiness, and grounding that comes from this. Zen will unfold for you in its own way simply by paying attention to what is actually happening; by becoming deeply intimate with reality.
We welcome you to join us
Sittings
We strongly suggest attending an Intro to The Zendo session before attending a sitting in order to get oriented. If you have an existing meditation practice and would like to just attend a sitting, please contact us in advance.
Please arrive early to all sittings in order to settle in as the bell rings, and the door is locked, at the stated starting time.
Sangha Sitting
Community Sitting
Sundays @ 9-11am
Monday evenings starting in spring 2026
This sitting is for sangha members where there is an opportunity to work one-on-one with the teacher (dokusan) each week as well as a more in depth dharma talk on practice, personal growth, and walking this path.
Members of the broader community are welcome to participate in the weekly community sittings. These are offered on a drop in basis. There is a suggested donation $10 per sitting.
Sitting in Recovery
Tuesday evenings starting in February
This is a facilitated meditation focused addiction recovery group open to anyone who feels they have a substance or behavioural addiction and would like to explore how meditation can support them in their recovery.
Dana
Dana (the Sanskrit word for generosity) is an eastern tradition that is often confusing to westerners. It is the principle that as the centre supports its individual members and participants on their path, the members and participants support the centre based on their ability. The Zendo would not exist without this generosity as it covers our expenses such as rent, insurance, and supplies. We greatly appreciate your support and generosity.
Sangha Membership
Membership in the sangha is a deeper commitment to the dharma (the path). This is for individuals who are interested in a consistent practice of personal growth, character development, and awakening to the world around us.
Membership includes the Sunday morning Sangha sitting, free attendance at any of the other regular sittings, and discounts on Zendo events such as day long silent retreats and classes.
While not a requirement, sangha members can choose to attend the Precepts course at some point and take their vows in a Jukai ceremony to become full members of the sangha.
The membership is suggested to be $100 per month, but geared to income based on the principle of Dana (generosity). Those who can may choose to contribute more towards the community. Those that cannot will never be turned away. Please discuss with the teacher on an appropriate donation if you are unsure.
Events @ The Zendo
There are various ways to get introduced to, as well as deepen, our meditation practice. Please join us.
Intro to the Zendo
First Saturday of the month
Join us for an introduction to The Zendo, offered once a month, as your source of information on what The Zendo is all about, how you can participate, and answer any questions you may have.
We will cover what sitting practice (zazen) is, basic posture and the method we use, how it differs from other forms of meditation, and the benefits we find from doing it in a community.
By attending you will be invited to join the next Sangha sitting so that you can experience our group and have an opportunity to meet with the teacher 1:1.
Silent Retreats
Last Saturday of the month
Silent one day retreats are a great way to steep ourselves in this practice. We sit quietly together for the day with a light lunch, opportunities to work 1:1 with the teacher to clarify our practice, read sutras, and close with a dharma talk.
While open to anyone, it is strongly suggested to have attended the Intro to The Zendo session, some Community nights, or be a member of the Sangha.
Multi-day zen retreats known as sesshins are offered through our parent school, the London Zen Centre. They are a deep Zen Intensive and a rare opportunity for us to experience the awakening Zen points to. They are hosted at an area retreat centre and provide the chance to have dokusan with an authentic zen master; Guy Gaudry, Roshi.
Classes
Coming spring 2026
Classes are a great way to deepening our understanding of this practice and the dharma. They are typically focused around specific books that illustrate these concepts by such masters as Joko Beck, Steve Hagan, Yamada Koun, and Shunryo Susuki.
They are delivered in a workshop style which open with a short round of meditation followed by a talk and discussion on the readings. More akin to a workshop than a lecture where participation is required.
Most classes are multiweek and include readings and questions as preparation each week.
About
The Zendo is affiliated under the London Zen Centre and the guidance of it’s Director, Guy Gaudry, Roshi. Mike Lobb, Sensei, is the head teacher at The Zendo.
Mike has been practicing meditation since 2007. Having experimented with several modalities including yoga, vipassana, and zen, he found his way to the London Zen Centre in 2015, becoming a formal student of Gaudry Roshi that same year. He received permission to start teaching in 2018 and became a Sensei in 2021.
Having come to the end of a long career in software development, systems architecture, and technology leadership, Mike now dedicates his time to Zen, the recovery community, and getting out into nature at every opportunity. He is an avid camper and lover of the peace, solitude, and genuine connection that the natural world offers us so generously.
