Vermont routinely ranks near the top or at the top of states with the highest number of people who don't identify with a religious tradition. But Vermont is home to many groups of people who gather to practice various forms of Buddism: Zen, Shambhala and other Western-convert practices. There are even a few monasteries found scattered across the state.

This weekend a group of Vermonters will be gathering for an intense training in Zen.  The Vermont affiliate of the Zen Mountain Monastery gathers weekly for Zen practice in groups in Montpelier, Burlington and Springfield.  

But this weekend they'll be joined by one of their teachers, Konrad Ryushin Marchaj, Sensei. Ryushi Sensei speaks with VPR's Mitch Wertlieb.