Who are we?

Joyful Mind Zen Community exists solely to provide opportunities for anyone to experience or practice Zen as lay persons or householders . We provide Zen meditation training, instruction, and practice periods as well as retreats.

Our Board of Directors helps support our practice. We are governed by Bylaws, and a Grievance and Reconciliation policy and Code of Ethics

We are a welcoming, inclusive and affirming community.

Our teachers have been trained in healthy boundaries and follow a code of ethics.

We are a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, operating solely from volunteer dedication and donations.

Photo: Rose Mary Myoan Dougherty, 1927-2019

Sensei Martine Palmiter founded Joyful Mind Zendo in 2023 and is the Guiding Teacher. She studied under Sensei Rosemary Dougherty for 17 years in an interfaith Zen community called Silver Spring Zendo and co-taught with Sensei Bob Ertman for a number of years.

Roshi Robert Kennedy of Morning Star Zendo encouraged Martine to set up a joyful place to practice Zen in her home town of Rockville.

Rose Mary encouraged teaching Zen to all people regardless of faith tradition, to have full trust in the love, compassion and wisdom of the Zen path.

Rose Mary was a Catholic sister and Zen Teacher, Sensei, as well as a program director of spiritual direction at Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation for 30 years. She studied Zen with Charlotte Joko Beck, and later with Roshi Janet Richardson and Roshi Bob Kennedy

She helped found the Companioning the Dying program which continues today for end-of-life caregivers.

Joyful Mind comes from the teaching of Zen Master Dogen (13c Japan) :

“A joyful spirit is one of gratefulness and buoyancy. Being born as a human, you have the opportunity to practice and help others, and living in community you become unfettered in social pettiness.

Rejoice in your birth into this world where you are capable of using your bodies freely to help others, with innumerable opportunities, and with all of your strength and efforts in all times of life, to practice in this way.”

For more on Zen Master Dogen’s Teachings on Joyful Mind, KInd Mind, Magnanimous Mind