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Soshimsa Zen Fellowship
Bringing Zen Practice to Local Communities
The Soshimsa Zen Fellowship is a network of local Soshimsa practice communities established to bring meditation, Tonggong health exercises, Dharma practice, and other Soshimsa programs into the communities where people live, work, and study.
Fellowship Chapters may meet in community spaces, workplaces, universities, organizations, and other appropriate local venues. A Chapter does not need to be a temple or Zen center. It may begin simply—with a regular meditation group, Tonggong class, or other approved Soshimsa practice—and develop according to the needs of the community it serves.
Every Fellowship Chapter remains part of the greater Soshimsa Sangha and operates under the spiritual guidance and authorization of Soshimsa Zen Center, USA — International Headquarters.
One Sangha — Many Communities
The Fellowship provides a way for Soshimsa practice to take root in a local community without requiring the establishment of a separate temple or Zen center.
While individual Chapters may differ according to their location and the needs of their communities, they share a common connection to Soshimsa and its tradition of practice, education, and service.
A Fellowship Chapter may offer:
Meditation · Tonggong Health Exercises · Dharma Study & Discussion · Buddhist Practice · Community Programs · Selected Soshimsa Programs
As a Chapter develops, additional practices and programs may be offered with the guidance and authorization of Soshimsa Zen Center.
Fellowship Chapter Types
Soshimsa Zen Fellowship Chapters may be established in a variety of settings, allowing Soshimsa practice communities to develop wherever people come together to practice, learn, and serve.
Local Chapter
A Fellowship Chapter serving a particular town, city, neighborhood, or geographic community.
University Chapter
A Fellowship Chapter established within a college or university community, including campus organizations and Buddhist chaplaincies.
Workplace Chapter
A Fellowship Chapter established among employees or members of a workplace or professional community.
Organizational Chapter
A Fellowship Chapter established within or in association with an organization whose members wish to form an ongoing Soshimsa practice community.
International Chapter
A Fellowship Chapter established outside the United States, providing a home for local Soshimsa practitioners while remaining connected to Soshimsa Zen Center, USA — International Headquarters.
Regardless of type, every Fellowship Chapter is a formally chartered Soshimsa practice community and remains part of the greater Soshimsa Sangha.
Our Fellowship Heritage
The Soshimsa Zen Fellowship is not a new idea.
Its roots reach back to Soshimsa's early years, when the Soshimsa Zen Fellowship (then So Shim Sa Buddhist Fellowship) was established as a way of bringing Buddhist practice beyond the walls of the Zen Center and directly into local communities.
In September 2010, the Fellowship established its first chapter at Rutgers University, where it served as a Buddhist campus chaplaincy. Additional Fellowship communities followed, carrying the same vision of making Buddhist practice accessible where people live, work, and study.
Over the years, some of these communities became inactive as circumstances, locations, and leadership changed. Their place in Soshimsa's history, however, remains.
In 2026, Soshimsa began a broader renewal and expansion of the Fellowship under the name Soshimsa Zen Fellowship, building upon a tradition of local, university, international, and workplace practice communities extending back to 2010.
The name has evolved. The mission continues.
Fellowship Charter Registry
Every formally established Soshimsa Zen Fellowship Chapter is recognized by Soshimsa Zen Center through a Fellowship Charter.
Each Chapter's charter becomes part of the permanent institutional record of Soshimsa Zen Center. A Chapter's historical identity is preserved even if the Chapter later becomes inactive, and charter numbers are not reassigned to another community.
This registry therefore recognizes both the active Fellowship of today and the communities that helped build the Fellowship throughout Soshimsa's history.
Historical Fellowship Chapters
Brazil Chapter
Goiânia, Brazil
Charter No. 0002
Established: June 20, 2011
Chapter Type: International Chapter
Chapter President: Dina Santana
Pledge of Service:
“Working towards equality and social change.”
The Brazil Chapter was the first International Chapter of the So Shim Sa Buddhist Fellowship, extending the Fellowship's mission beyond the United States.
Status: Historical — Inactive
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New York City Chapter
New York City, New York
Charter No. 0003
Established: October 23, 2011
Chapter Type: Local Chapter
Chapter President: Venerable DuhkSong Sunim
The New York City Chapter was the third chapter established by the So Shim Sa Buddhist Fellowship and the Fellowship's first Local Chapter.
Status: Historical — Inactive
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Elizabeth Chapter
Elizabeth, New Jersey
Charter No. 0004
Established: January 5, 2012
Chapter Type: Local Chapter
Chapter President: Venerable MoohSang Sunim
Pledge of Service:
“Instilling human values in the youth of today, for a wise leadership of tomorrow.”
Based at Shim's Martial Arts Academy in Elizabeth, the Chapter offered meditation and leadership classes as part of the academy's curriculum, combining contemplative practice with service to young people and the wider community.
Status: Historical — Inactive
Current Fellowship Chapters
Rutgers University Chapter
New Brunswick, New Jersey
Charter No. 0001
Established: September 2010
Chapter Type: University Chapter
Chapter President: Venerable MyongAhn Sunim
The Rutgers University Chapter was the first chapter of the So Shim Sa Buddhist Fellowship, established as a campus chaplaincy serving the Rutgers University community.
The Rutgers Fellowship holds a special place in Soshimsa history as the Founding Fellowship Chapter and the beginning of Soshimsa's organized effort to establish local practice communities beyond the Zen Center.
Status: Reactivating
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Formosa Plastics Chapter
Formosa Plastics
Charter No.: 0005
Established: 2020
Chapter Type: Workplace Chapter
Chapter Leader: Dawn Seon-Ji
Pledge of Service: "Bringing stress reduction and wellness to employees to prevent burnout."
The Formosa Plastics Chapter brings Soshimsa practice directly into the workplace, providing an opportunity for members of the Formosa Plastics community to participate in meditation and Soshimsa practice where they work.
The Chapter represents an important extension of the Fellowship mission: bringing accessible practice not only into towns and universities, but also into workplaces and other established communities.
Status: Active
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Union Chapter
Union, New Jersey
Charter No. 0006
Established: 2026
Chapter Type: Local Chapter
Chapter Leader: Venerable MoohSang Sunim
Status: Active
Preserving Our Fellowship History
Fellowship Chapters are communities, and communities naturally change.
A Chapter may grow, relocate, become inactive, or one day return. For this reason, Soshimsa does not erase Chapters from its history simply because they are no longer meeting.
An inactive Chapter remains part of the Soshimsa Fellowship Charter Registry. If an historic Chapter is later reactivated, its original identity and charter number may be restored rather than creating an entirely new Chapter.
In this way, each generation of Fellowship practitioners becomes part of a continuing story.
Bring Soshimsa to Your Community
A Fellowship Chapter can begin with something very simple: a few people who want to practice together.
Chapters may be established in communities, universities, workplaces, organizations, or other appropriate settings. Soshimsa provides connection, guidance, training, and authorization while local leaders help cultivate a practice community suited to the people it serves.
You do not need to have a building, an established organization, or a large group to begin a conversation with us.
If you are interested in bringing meditation, Tonggong, Dharma practice, or other Soshimsa programs to your community, we would be happy to hear from you and explore the possibilities together.
Interested in bringing Soshimsa to your community?