Order of the Prairie Wind

The Order of the Prairie Wind (OPW) is an independent order of ordained Soto Zen Buddhist priests founded by Rev. Nonin Chowaney. We are a teaching order, whose chief purpose is to serve the community by transmitting the dharma. We emphasize the continuous daily practice of zazen, devotion, and ritual, for we recognize that through these practices we manifest the identity of practice and realization and internalize the teachings of the sutras. We hold the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts as guides for our actions, and we believe in the importance of studying Buddhist texts. We respect and uphold Soto Zen Buddhist tradition and pass it on through dharma transmission.

Lincoln Zen Group
A group affiliated with NZC meets in Lincoln weekly on Thursday evenings at 7:00 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 6300 A St. For further information e-mail or call Kanho Doug Dittman at dougd@windstream.net (402) 783-2124. Zazen Instruction is available for newcomers if arranged in advance.

White Lotus Sangha
The White Lotus Sangha, a group affiliated with the Order of the Prairie Wind, meets in three Nebraska prisons: Nebraska State Penitentiary and Lincoln Correctional Center, both in Lincoln, and Tecumseh State Correctional Institute in Tecumseh. For further information, call (402) 551-9035, e-mail heartland@prairiewindzen.org, or write Nebraska Zen Center, 3625 Lafayette Ave., Omaha, NE, 68131-1363.

Prairie Wind Online
OPW publishes a quarterly newsletter, Prairie Wind. It contains dharma talks from OPW Priests, events, as well as poetry and other writings from the Buddhist community. Prairie Wind can be found online by clicking here.