By Kevin Hendricks — The free Zen meditation group that meets Wednesday mornings at the Corrales Community Center now has a formally authorized guide.
Brian Taylor co-founded Corrales Zen with fellow Corraleño Chris Cadman in 2024. On Nov. 11 he received lay entrustment, which authorizes a lay person to guide students in Zen meditation and study. His teacher, the Rev. Hogetsu Laurie Belzer, traveled from Chicago’s Ancient Dragon Zen Gate to lead the ceremony. She gave Taylor a green rakusu, a traditional patchwork bib that marks his new role.
Belzer said she came to honor “Brian’s many decades of deep and devoted Buddhist practice.”
Those decades include an unusual double life. Taylor served 30 years as senior priest at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Albuquerque’s North Valley. During that time he also studied Zen, starting with Charlotte Joko Beck in San Diego in the 1990s. He has been a member of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate since 2014.
Sessions follow traditional Zen form: sitting in stillness and silence, then discussing short readings. Most people sit in chairs, so you don’t need a cushion or any experience. There’s no membership, and you don’t have to come every week.
“All are welcome, whether they are new meditators or veterans,” Taylor said.
INFO BOX
Corrales Zen
- When: Wednesdays, 10:30 a.m.
- Where: Corrales Community Center, 4324 Corrales Rd
- Cost: Free
- Online: corraleszen.org
- Contact: Brian Taylor, 505-321-6902 (call or text)