WELCOME
Zen is the path of meeting life as it is—real, raw, and without illusions. This is not a practice for escaping your humanity, but for fully embracing it. We believe that the deepest truth lies in allowing ourselves to feel, to weep if we must, and to let our vulnerability become our greatest strength. Each tear, each moment of raw emotion, is part of the purification process—shedding layers of conditioning and revealing the essence of who you are. Step One Zen is a place for those ready to face themselves fully, without turning away. There are no shortcuts here. No avoidance. This is a path that asks for your complete honesty and your willingness to experience the rawness of life. In doing so, you’ll discover that true awakening isn’t about becoming something else—it’s about becoming more fully human.This is Zen—real, raw, no bullshit. And in that, you will find your deepest truth, liberation and power.
Hey, I'm Moksha Zenji, the Founder and Zen practitioner leading Step One Zen. Thanks for visiting our website. Our teachings are deeply rooted in the 2,500-year-old tradition of Zen Buddhism. Yet, in today’s world, especially in the West, what Zen means has become fluid, evolving with the needs of the moment. Historically, Zen has always been the school of Buddhism with few rules or dogmas, believing that our true nature expresses itself naturally once realized. It emphasizes one profound truth: enlightenment—our true nature—is already here, present in each of us. Zen resists definition because it transcends words and concepts. As the saying goes, 'The finger pointing to the moon is not the moon.'
​
When the Buddha awakened to the fact that he was already enlightened, he hesitated to teach—How do you give someone something they already possess? That is the heart of Zen: the realization that you are already whole, already complete, exactly as you are yet it is a practice.
​
At Step One Zen, we recognize that layers of conditioning, trauma, and cultural noise can obscure the realization of our true nature. While we immerse ourselves in the rich teachings of Zen Buddhism, we also integrate profound tools from modern Western thought and various Non-Dual spiritual traditions, such as Mystical Christianity and Sufism from Islam. Drawing on psychological insights, including Abraham Maslow's work on self-actualization, as well as transformative models like Jungian archetypes, the 9 stages of ego development, and Spiral Dynamics, we aim for a balanced and integral approach to the practice realization of unsurpassed enlightenment. We bring together the best of Eastern and Western wisdom to help you break through the barriers that keep you from knowing the truth of who you are—finding fun and joy in the unfolding of time and space!
​
No matter what modality we’re using, everything we do is rooted in sacred principles of love, compassion, presence, and connection—the foundation of Zen practice and the heart of the Bodhisattva path which we dedicate our life. A Bodhisattva is one whose awakening is not just for their own liberation but for the collective liberation of all beings. This is the calling we embrace and is the heart and pulse of Zen.
​​​​
At Step One Zen, we celebrate the diversity of life in all its expressions. We hold reverence for every being and recognize that Zen is not confined to one form or tradition. Our true nature reveals itself in infinite ways, always guiding us toward authentic direct experience. A Zen practitioner is free to sit in a sweat lodge, worship in a church, or participate in any tradition that resonates with their soul. All languages, all forms, are simply different expressions of the same underlying truth.
​
To live in Zen is to embrace the full spectrum of life. It is the freedom to love with your whole heart, to parent, to create, to engage with the world from a place of presence, compassion, and deep connection. Zen invites us to live fully, to align with the truth of our being, and to release what no longer serves us, leading to a direct experience of enlightenment here and now.
​
This is not a distant goal—it is who you already are. The time is now to awaken, to embody the truth, and to step into the full power of your existence. Let Step One Zen be the catalyst that ignites the fire of your awakening, as you step into the role of the liberator—for yourself, and for all beings.
​
​
Zen is about awakening to the wholeness of our true nature and living life in full alignment with that truth. Zen doesn’t stop at the stillness of meditation—it calls us to step boldly into the world with love, presence, compassion, and connection. Once we see through the illusions that cause suffering, we are free to live a life that is holistic, authentic, and deeply attuned to who we really are as the song and dance. At Step One Zen, we embrace this complete embodiment of Zen in every facet of life.Our practice includes daily meditation (zazen), koan study, sangha gatherings, and the renewal of vows through Jukai ceremonies & much more.
We are driven by the call to bring the true nature of the self into the world out of love & to create. As Bodhisattvas, we strive to awaken the collective, infusing every part of society—commerce, politics, culture—with compassion and justice. We stand as warriors for what is right, engaging the world with fierce authenticity, deep listening, and compassionate speech.
Step One Zen is not just about finding peace, love, and joy despite life’s circumstances. It’s about transforming the world from within—bringing the truth of interconnectedness, the reality of oneness, into every corner of existence. Step One stands for something profound, noble, and beautiful. To study Zen is to study the self. To study the self is to forget the self and realize the ten thousand things. To realize the ten thousand things is to realize life itself and to be truly liberated, shaping a future grounded in compassion, justice, and love for all.
​
You are already walking the path, even if you don't yet realize it. The truth you seek is not distant; it is already within you, waiting to be uncovered. Step One Zen invites you to look deeply, to listen, and to remember the truth that has always been yours. This journey is about rediscovering who you truly are and stepping into that essence with clarity and purpose.The next step is simple: to sit, to reflect, and to listen. The answers you seek are already inside you, waiting for your attention.Are you ready to embrace the Koan of Step One? To meet yourself in stillness and uncover the boundless potential that has always been yours? We are here to walk beside you as you begin this journey of self-realization—one that will not only transform you, but the world around you.