Zen and Buddhism in Alaska

I was just thumbing through a local newspaper, and saw a notice about a Zen meditation meeting in Anchorage, Alaska, and it got me curious about whether there are any Zen centers up here or not. After some poking around, here's what I've been able to find out about "Zen in Alaska".

Anchorage Zen Community

The Anchorage Zen Community is a Zen practice community in the Soto Zen tradition. Here is some information from their website:

The Anchorage Zen Community and its practice space, Uto-an, are committed to providing authentic Soto Zen Buddhist practice and teachings to all who are interested. We welcome people of any faith or background who are interested in cultivating compassion, awareness, and wisdom in their daily lives.

Our schedule includes daily zazen and chanting, regular instruction for newcomers, study groups, prison volunteer work, and teisho (dharma talks); we also hold one-day sittings, sesshin, precepts ceremonies, and more. We are a non-residential community, voluntarily maintained and supported by our members.

If you're familiar with Anchorage, Alaska, the Anchorage Zen Community is located across the street from the Tidal Wave Bookstore. Here is their address:

Northern Lights Village, Suite #L
1441 W. Northern Lights Blvd.
Anchorage, AK 99503

Meditate in Alaska

I've seen several announcements for a website named www.meditateinalaska.org. Their website has this information:

We are the Anchorage branch of Kadampa Meditation Center Washington, located in Seattle, Washington, founded by Geshe Kelsang Gyatso.

They also have share this information:

Our weekly meditation classes in Anchorage provide an introduction to Buddhism and how to meditate. They give step-by-step instructions on how to begin meditating, how to deepen your experience and how to integrate meditation into daily life.

Further contact information is available on their website.

Alaska Buddhist Center

The Alaska Buddhist Center is located in Fairbanks, Alaska. I don't know much about them yet except for this address:

4448 Pike's Landing Road (UUFF building)
Fairbanks, Alaska

Tibetan Buddhism in Fairbanks - Katog Karma Ling

There may be a Tibetan Buddhist group in Fairbanks named Katog Karma Ling. Here is their URL: www.katogkarmaling.org.

Farthest North Vipassana Group (Fairbanks, Alaska)

The Farthest North Vipassana Group is based in the Cold Mountain Zen Center in Fairbanks, Alaska. Here is some information from their website:

Beginners are welcome; we provide meditation instruction as needed. Insight meditation is a subset of traditional Buddhist meditation techniques adapted for modern lay practitioners. Those who practice it learn techniques for observing and controlling their reactions to mental events. Common reasons for practice include stress management, promoting positive emotions such as compassion, loving-kindness and equanimity, and dealing with negative emotions such as anger, fear, grief and craving. While insight meditation is based on Theravada Buddhism, our meditation practice is non-religious and non-denominational - participants are welcome no matter what their beliefs (or lack thereof).

And here is a link to their website: www.alaskavipassana.org.

(Note: The Cold Mountain Zen Center website is not working at this time.)

I don't have an address for this Zen group, but you can contact them through the website link shown above.

Juneau Shambhala Center

The Juneau Shambhala Center is located in Juneau, Alaska. Here is some information from their website:

Juneau Shambhala Center is part of an international community of urban meditation and rural retreat centers founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche. Our center offers daily public meditation, a core curriculum of Buddhist and Shambhala teachings, as well as training in advanced contemplative practices.

Here is the contact information from their website:

Juneau Shambhala Center
174 S. Franklin Str. (R. 206 Emporium Mall)
Juneau, AK 99801
Telephone: 907 586 6987

Here's a link to their website: juneau.shambhala.org.