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"If we want the world to be a different place,
then we as individuals
have to live differently. Through engaged meditation practice,
we can nurture healing and transformation within ourselves, and this can change the world"
- Claude AnShin Thomas

We serve people, who
have lived through trauma and suffering,
helping them to integrate
these experiences into their lives.

We offer Zen Buddist
meditation practice
in the United States
and worldwide.

We offer retreats and support to veterans,
 and their loved ones

Read this statement from Claude AnShin Thomas on the Covid-19 pandemic:

People around the world are suffering not only from the health effects of the Coronavirus, but also from a crisis of identity stemming from the sudden changes in the way we interact, earn a living, and go about our daily lives. To this end, I remain focused on being of service and sharing the message that meditation practice and daily life are not two separate things.

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the ways in which I engage publicly with groups and organizations has had to be adapted. Most of Zaltho’s offerings, such as public talks and meditation practice periods, are now happening live online. For a complete schedule of online events, click here. As the pandemic develops and public health guidelines shift, we will continue to adapt and keep you informed about what we’re doing.

Upcoming Events

Event Calendar

AT HELLS GATE

“Written with relentless courage and utter compassion, this account of violence and transformation is one of the most amazing and wonderful stories I’ve ever read.”

Michael Herr, Vietnam war correspondent, screenwriter, and author of Dispatches

Our Founder Claude AnShin Thomas
Claude Anshin Thomas is a Vietnam combat veteran turned Zen Buddhist monk, author, and speaker. Claude AnShin communicates Zen Buddhist Teachings in a non-religious manner that is direct and drawn from life, with a deep-rooted sense of compassion and purpose. He is the author of the award-winning book At Hell’s Gate: A Soldier’s Journey from War to Peace, which has been translated into several languages.
Read more
Claude AnShin Thomas
“We can’t make the external world become peaceful; we can only become peace. There is so much trauma and sadness in the world, so much suffering. When we stop blaming others and begin looking deeply within ourselves, we can discover how suffering arises, how it is linked to violence, and how to stop the seemingly endless cycles of aggression.”
Claude AnShin Thomas
“Meditation is not just something we do while seated on a cushion or in a meditation hall, it’s a way of living. The practice of meditation can be present and support us in all things and in every moment.”
Claude AnShin Thomas
“Peace is not the absence of conflict; it’s the absence of violence within conflict.”
Claude AnShin Thomas
“Before we can get to a place of peace, we have to touch our suffering—embrace it and hold it.”
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