NEWCOMERS and VISITORS

We welcome newcomers and visitors, with or without prior experience in Zen. While Zen has a formality to it, there is a deep warmth expressed in our practice and silence.

If you are new to Zen, please come early about 15 minutes for instruction in meditation and Zen forms.

You are also invited to attend our monthly Newcomers and Friends meetings on Sunday nights. See the CALENDAR for dates.

What to Expect in Zen meditation practice periods…

  • Arrive early (10-15 minutes) to find a chair or cushion that is comfortable for you. If you are late, please sit in the chairs provided outside the Zendo and wait until walking meditation starts and then join us. Someone will greet you. We ring a bell to start meditation promptly.

  • Find a chair, cushion or bench that is comfortable for meditation. Line your shoes up along the wall. If you need to wear shoes for medical reasons, please speak to the leaders.

  • Our meditation periods are 25-minutes of silent Zazen (seated meditation) with opening chants. We do Kinhin for 5 minutes (walking meditation) in between meditation periods to refresh our legs. Bells indicate starting and stopping meditation periods. We use wooden clackers to start and stop walking meditation.

  • If you need to use the restroom, do so at the kinhin walking meditation period. Simply bow out of the line and rejoin when returning. Maintain silence as much as possible.

  • We offer one-on-one teacher instruction called “dokusan” every other week. Please take the opportunity to ask questions.

  • If you have to leave early please do so as quietly as possible at the walking meditation period. It is not a problem to just sit one or two meditation periods at the beginning.

  • Zen can be practiced by those of any faith tradition, or no faith tradition. While we may use the terms “buddha” it simply means awakened mind and heart. We do chanting and walking meditation to embody our whole selves in attention. Zen is not for everyone, so try it and find out.

  • We encourage newcomers to try it for 3 months to see if the Zen path is right for you. After trying us out, you may wish to commit to Becoming a Student