On a recent Wednesday evening, I found myself walking quietly down a tiny forest path with my brother and sister-in-law. As we followed the meandering path through damp and mossy undergrowth, our voices diminished and trailed away: We were on our way to a weekly meditation session held at Morgan Bay Zendo in Surry.

In hushed tones the facilitator led us barefoot into the Zendo – a building created with impeccable Japanese style; a little strange to find it nestled in the Maine woods. Through a combination of quiet gesture and whispers, our guide pointed out the cushions set up around the room. At the front a wooden statue of Buddha peered at us peacefully outward.

Christopher and Tammy settled in – forced their feet into a half-lotus posture. My stomach roared. Over the next few minutes the small group became quiet as the atmosphere calmed down. A sweet scent drifted from the altar and a quiet rain intensified outside. When the rain finally subsided, the only sound was that of a wet bullfrog and maybe eternity spiraling forward.

The Morgan Bay Zendo, formerly known as Moonspring Hermitage, was established in Surry by Walter Nowick in 1971. According to its Web site, Nowick left the Hermitage in 1985 and it was “reincorporated” at that time as Morgan Bay Zendo.

“We have a membership comprising about 650 people spread out all over the country. Some simply donate, some come for a retreat, some come to stay in the cabins that we have,” said Hugh Curran, a Zendo board member and meditation teacher.

Morgan Bay Zendo includes a centrally located meditation hall, a meeting hall and several cabins for individual retreat. Additionally, guests are encouraged to explore the woods trail and nearby moss garden.

In order to protect a neighboring piece of property from development, the Morgan Bay Zendo recently purchased, for $49,000, a 7-acre field from Nowick, payable within three years. This field also happens to border on five acres next to the Morgan Bay salt marsh, which Nowick donated to a local land trust.

Originally from India, Buddhism is based on the four simple truths elaborated by the historical figure Shakyamuni

Buddha: All life is suffering (unsatisfactory); desire is the cause of suffering; there is a “path” one can follow out of suffering; and nirvana, or spiritual “liberation,” is the end of suffering. In almost all the schools of Buddhism, meditation plays a key part in the pilgrim’s progress.

“Zen considers itself the essence of Buddhism,” Curran said. “Other traditions believe that they are the essence of Buddhism, so a lot depends on who is talking about it. The basic idea is that most human beings don’t experience the present. They’re thinking of the past or they’re thinking of the future. In Zen you are trying to live in the present.”

Curran became interested in Buddhism as a young man in college. Invited to a Quaker retreat center which was hosting a Zen teacher, Curran attended his first meditation.

“It was very painful for me, but at the same time I had some strong spiritual experiences. I was very young, 19 or 20, and it galvanized me, made me realize there was such a thing as awakening.”

Although Curran has years of both meditation and community living under his belt, he is careful to distinguish himself from a traditional Zen master, preferring the term “meditation leader” of retreats.

“Zen has to do with inner stillness; it comes from the word ‘dhyana’ in Sanskrit and was transferred into China as ‘ch’an’ – which is their pronunciation. By the time it got into Japan, it was Zen. So all it really means is ‘still sitting,'” Curran said.

According to Curran, there can be Buddhism without belief in the foundational myths of Buddha. He emphasized that in today’s world there are so many different groups practicing the elements of Buddhism that don’t call themselves Buddhist. For example, there are some Catholic Buddhist groups and even Sufi Buddhists.

So what does it take at the smorgasbord of globalized religious experimentation to actually be a Buddhist?

“Almost anyone can call themselves a Buddhist,” Curran said. “Strictly speaking, all you need to do is endorse what are the ‘marks’ of Buddhism – anicca, anatta, nirvana; that you accept impermanence, all things are dynamic, anatta meaning that there is no permanent or absolute self. Nirvana meaning that you believe there is such a thing as awakening; nirvana just meaning that you blow out all the negative passions and emotions. If you endorse these marks, then you say, “I am following the Buddhist path.'”

Morgan Bay Zendo recently purchased seven acres contiguous to the property from Walter Nowick and continues to work with Blue Hill Heritage Trust to raise $49,000 within the next year. Anyone interested in contributing to the project is encouraged to visit the Zendo in Surry or online at www.morganbayzendo.org, where a complete weekly meditation and retreat schedule is available.