Great Stour Zen Meditation Group

Seated Meditation (Zazen)

Each meeting will begin with 40 minutes of seated meditation. If you are new to the practice, we will be happy to give you some pointers. Chairs will be provided, as well as zafus (meditation support pillows) for those who prefer sitting on the floor. While some Japanese Zen practitioners sit cross-legged on a pillow, it’s not required. The teacher will help you discover what works best for you.

Be sure to wear loose, comfortable clothing for seated meditation. As we remove our shoes before entering the meditation area, you may wish to wear footwear that’s easy to slip out of.

Dharma Study

After we sit, we will have tea and Dharma Study. The instructor will choose a text, and we will take turns reading it aloud together, pausing on interesting or challenging passages for instructor-facilitated reflection and discussion.

Chanting

We will chant some brief but pivotal traditional Soto Zen chants, both before and after Dharma Study. Chant cards with the text will be provided, so there’s no need to memorise anything.

What we chant

Chant before study or lecture

An unsurpassed, penetrating and perfect Dharma is rarely met with
even in a hundred thousand million kalpas.
Having it to see and listen to, to remember and accept,
I vow to taste the truth of the Tathagata’s words.

Four Vows (chant after study or lecture)

Beings are numberless; I vow to save them.
Delusions are inexhaustible; I vow to end them.
Dharma gates are boundless; I vow to enter them.
Buddha’s way is unsurpassable; I vow to become it. [Chant 3 times]