NEWCOMERS

We welcome visitors with or without prior experience in Zen.

We offer a simple Zen practice of sitting and walking meditation.

We offer instruction: INTRODUCTION TO ZEN PRACTICE CLASS MONTHLY please see our calendar. If you cannot attend our Introduction class, you may arrive 15 minutes early and request instruction, or just follow along the best you can.

What to Expect in Zen meditation practice periods…

  • Arrive early (10-15 minutes) since we ring the bell to start meditation on time and end on time. 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.

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

  • Our meditation periods are 25-minutes of silent Zazen (seated meditation) with opening chants. We do kinhin (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 since questions may be asked before or after meditation, or during Teacher “interviews” which are one-on-one conversations about your Zen practice.

  • If you have to leave early please do so as quietly as possible at the walking meditation period.

  • Please note that we offer a non-denominational Zen practice designed to be welcoming to those of all faiths, or no faith. Although we may use chants or talks based on ancient Zen ancestors who practiced as Buddhists, Joyful Mind Zendo practices stillness and silence that touches our hearts in the present moment, finding presence that is wordless and inconceivable. If God is part of your faith tradition, you are welcome here. If you are Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Hindu, Christian, earth-based, or any faith or no faith tradition, you are welcome here.

  • Volunteers are wonderful. If you wish to bring tea or snacks, come early to set up the Zendo, please let us know.