NEWCOMERS
“Stay together, friends. Don't scatter and sleep.
Our friendship is made of being awake.”~~ Rumi
We welcome visitors with or without prior experience in Zen. We offer a simple Zen practice of silence and stillness.
You may arrive 15 minutes early and request instruction, or just follow along the best you can. You are welcome to ask questions before or after our practice period. You may sit in a chair or on the floor cushions, or use one of our Zen benches, or bring your own cushion. Loose clothes are more comfortable. We usually remove our shoes, but there are options available. Please ask us.
What to Expect in Zen practice periods…
For those new to the practice, we will show you how to do Zen meditation.
We normally do two 25-minute rounds of zazen (silent, seated meditation) with kinhin (walking meditation) in between meditation, and a final 20-minute period of teacher talk, or chance for private one-on-one with a teacher (dokusan). Some weeks we will end with tea and community sharing and asking questions. If you need to use the restroom, do so at the kinhin walking meditation period.
If you have to leave early that is fine, just please do so as quietly as possible if you must leave during meditation.
There is some Zen etiquette, which is important to follow, but you’ll get the hang of it quickly. There will be plenty of time for questions before we start sitting and after we finish.
Please note that we offer a non-denominational Zen practice. This is simple zazen designed to be welcoming to those of all faiths, or no faith. We may read or speak or use verses from long ago Zen ancestors and teachers who practice the Way of Zen. Ultimately, Zen is a practice of stillness and silence that touches our hearts today, right here and now, and encompasses the ultimate reality that is wordless, present and inconceivable. Join us!