Welcome
Pathway Zen hosts weekly meditation and mindfulness practice groups in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Our purpose is to offer a structured program that integrates and personalises Zen, as a practice-path in daily life.
Our purpose...
The goal of Pathway Zen is to guide anyone who is serious about the discovery of their true-nature and the cultivation of Zen, as a practice-path in their life. This is facilitated through a systematic program that includes introduction to Zen courses, daily online meditation (zazen), weekly in-person practice opportunities, monthly daylong meditation zazenkais, residential retreats and koan introspection. All activities are grounded in both Soto and Rinzai Zen practices within a lay householder lineage.
As a secular and non-profit practice community, everyone is welcome irrespective of their tradition, religious affiliation or none. Please feel free to come along to one of our regular events in Spring Hill or Nerang and feel free to participate via Zoom online. Newcomers are encouraged to participate in an introduction to Zen session, which is held concurrently in a separate room to our regular practice group on Thursday evenings in Spring Hill or Monday evenings in Nerang. A comprehensive introduction to Zen course is also offered in-person or online on an ongoing basis. Recordings can be viewed here
Pathway Zen is guided by Arno Hess and his successors. Arno is an Australian and Brisbane based Dharma and Zen Buddhist teacher, certified both in Australia and through the Sanbozen lineage in Kamakura Japan.
Community engagement:
Inside Mindfulness - Prison project
Pathway Zen is a founding member of Inside Mindfulness Inc., which facilitates weekly mindfulness based rehabilitation programs in Queensland correctional centres. We currently teach multiple mindfulness and emotional intelligence courses in 6 prisons in South East Queensland.
Carbon Footprint
Pathway Zen is a carbon neutral organisation. We are committed to a continued strategy to maintain carbon neutrality through identifying, reducing and offsetting our carbon emissions.
Donations and Banking Information
Account Name: Pathway Zen
BSB: 633 000
Account Number: 159764034
Reference : Your name followed by name of event or donation purpose
New Gold Coast Practice Group
We are delighted to announce the launch of a new weekly Pathway Zen practice group on the Gold Coast, starting on Monday the 12th of January 2026 and then continuing every Monday evening. This group will be led by James Emmett, a Zen teacher in the Pathway Zen lineage, and will begin with a five-week introduction to Zen lecture series designed to lay the foundations of Zen practice. The group is open to new and experienced practitioners who wish to engage with a Zen sangha on the Gold Coast. For more information, please contact James at: james.emmett@pathwayzen.org.au
Universal Zoom Link
To join Pathway Zen on Zoom please use this one link for all of our events: To join click here
Upcoming Events and News:
Please note that our last Spring Hill meditation sit for the year is on Thursday the 18th of December. We will be back on Thursday the 8th of January.
Every morning and evening - Sunrise & Moonlight Zazen.
Please feel free to join our Zoom-Zendo for Sunrise & Moonlight Zazen.
Sunrise Zazen:
Daily, 5am to 8am (Brisbane Time). Please enter the Zoom-Zendo anytime you are able and visit for as long as you wish. There will be no talking or bell ringing as this is strictly a silent group practice for those able to come. To join click here
Moonlight Zazen:
8:00 PM to 8:30 PM (Brisbane time). This is a silent meditation event. Please mute your microphone on arrival.
Our universal Zoom link also joins the Thursday in-person Spring Hill event and our Zenkais and Sesshins. (retreats). To join click here
Monday in-person meditation (Zazen) in Nerang - Gold Coast
Starting the 12th of January, please feel free to join us every Monday evening for Zazen. 7:00pm to 8:30 pm at 33 Mylor Street Nerang (Nerang Senior building). Newcomers to Zen will be given a basic introduction to Zen on arrival in a separate room. Please arrive no later than 6:50pm.
We recommend that newcomers also view the Introductory Zen lectures as posted here.
Monday and Thursday program & Zoom link: View more
Thursday in-person meditation (Zazen) in Spring Hill and via Zoom.
Please feel free to join us every Thursday evening for Zazen. 7:00pm to 8:30 pm at 355 Wickham Terrace, Spring Hill. Newcomers to Zen will be given a basic introduction to Zen on arrival in a separate room. Please arrive no later than 6:50pm.
We recommend that newcomers also view the Introductory Zen lectures as posted here.
Monday and Thursday program & Zoom link: View more
Zenkai (daylong retreat) dates, for Spring Hill and Nerang. View more
Next Dharma talk.
Every last Monday (Nerang) and last Thursday (Spring Hill) of the month.
Our regular monthly dharma talk will be presented during the evening (8:00 PM) in lieu of the third meditation period, followed by Q&A. All welcome. This talk is also available to Zoom participants. To log-in, please click on the Thursday evening Zoom link:
Next Residential Sesshin (Silent Retreats)
May 17-24, 2026 (7-day sesshin) Brisbane
October 15-18, 2026 (3-day sesshin) Brisbane
Vancouver Sesshin dates to be announced.
Introductory Zen Lectures:
Spring Hill: During Zenkai (daylong retreat).
Nerang: During Zenkai (daylong retreat).
Online:
The Introductory Zen lectures can now be viewed online. The lectures can be viewed here
