ABOUT THE COURSE

In Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is someone who works to awaken not just for themselves, but to support everyone in finding freedom and peace, especially in times of great distress.

This course explores two powerful Buddhist texts with a focus on awakening within a layperson’s life, through the perspective of the late Zen Master, the venerable Thich Nhat Hanh: The Inquiry of Ugra and The Vimalakirti Sutra.

Both texts offer practical guidance on how to live with wisdom and compassion. Together, we will study and reflect on what they mean for our daily lives – whether in our work, family, or community.

Through discussion, reflections, and simple practices, we will explore these teachings with the aim of understanding our own lives––whatever they may look like right now––and our potential in our activities to live the Bodhisattva path in each moment.

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What You'll Learn

Core Life Principles: Explore wisdom teachings about interconnection, letting go of rigid thinking, and living to help others
Practical Daily Application: Examine your approach to work, relationships, food, home life, community-building and difficult emotions
Living as a Bodhisattva: Develop practices that support your own growth while serving others during turbulent times
Ancient Stories, Modern Relevance: Apply teachings from two less-studied sacred texts to contemporary personal and global challenges

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Who Is This Course For?

This course is open to anyone interested in living with wisdom and compassion, whether you’re new to Buddhist practices or have been practicing for many years.

If you are curious about applying spiritual teachings to your everyday life – in your relationships, work, and way of being – this course is for you.

Course DEtails

Master's or Certificate Credit

$1,456

Audit - Benefactor Level

$1,123

Audit - Standard (Actual Cost

$790

Audit - Scholarship Level

$488

Financial Support: NYZC endeavors to make our programs accessible. If the cost of this program is prohibitive, please choose the scholarship level. There are a limited number of scholarship seats available. If the scholarship level is not listed on the registration form, that means it is no longer available.

Class Dates | Online via Zoom

Class Components

Weekly live classes consisting of teaching, discussion, and breakout groups (4:30 pm – 5:45 pm ET)*;
An online learning platform and discussion forum with fellow students;
Weekly reading assignments;
Participation in NYZC’s weekly evening meditation on Wednesdays (6:00 pm – 7:15 pm ET portion of class time).

*Recordings of the class, not including breakout room discussions, will be made available to registered students.

Guiding Text

The Bodhisattva Path by Thich Nhat Hanh offers clear, accessible commentaries on two foundational Mahayana Buddhist texts: the Vimalakirti Sutra and the Ugrapariprccha Sutra (Inquiry of Ugra).

These teachings illuminate what it means to live as a Bodhisattva – someone who seeks to awaken for the benefit of all beings – whether as a monastic or a lay practitioner. Thich Nhat Hanh’s insightful commentary brings these ancient sutras into the present moment, offering practical guidance on how to embody wisdom and compassion in our everyday lives.

While not required, it is highly recommended that you purchase a copy of the text before the start of the class.

Master’s Level Credit

Register at this level if you need Masters Credit. You will also be required to write a 10-page paper. If you register at any of the audit levels, you can still participate fully in the class and will not be required to submit a 10-page paper.

Certificate in Soto Zen Buddhist Studies

This course is part of our certificate program which you can learn more about here.

About the Teacher

Jisho Sara Siebert

Jisho Sara Siebert is a Soto Zen Buddhist priest who was led to Buddhism by the suffering around her and in her work to prevent domestic and sexual violence. Her path to understand suffering and joy led her to Los Angeles – where she first met her teacher, Gengo Akiba Roshi, then to Papua New Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Uganda, monasteries in Japan, and Haiti. She is recognized as an International Zen Teacher (Kokusaifukyoshi) by the Soto Shu and teaches at Zen Fields in Ames, Iowa.

Praise for Koshin's Classes

“I love Koshin’s approach; his primary focus is not intellectual as much as it is practical. He always emphasizes, ‘how does this affect your daily life? how can you use these teachings in your relationships’. I also loved the wonderful openness that I experienced from my fellow classmates, I always felt safe and free to share from my heart. It’s rare to find such an amazing group of people in one setting!”

“As an academic I have been studying texts for over 40 years. This one (Lotus Sutra) has been the most profound and transformative for me. It has helped me wake up and given me skills to keep my heart open in daily life.”

“Deep bows. Thank you so much. I had a hard time warming up to this text initially, but it really changed me. Thank you for fostering the kind of reading that leads to that.”

“The course (Zen Precepts) challenged me in ways I’d not expected. Occasionally this grew from something in the reading, or in a dharma talk, but invariably reflecting on the question(s) posed pulled me into a deeper understanding of the precepts. With each assignment I spent quite a lot of time thinking and writing (in a journal) about what it means to embody these simple but profound guidelines for daily life. Only near the end of the course was I aware of its impact on my practice.”

Zen Studies: Awakening in the Ordinary