Zen in Person & Online
Zen is essentially a body-mind-heart connection calling for regular practice. Connection is in-person, supplemented by online practice. In person, the teacher can guide you in maintaining the correct sitting posture in meditation and show you our forms, like bowing, mudras, and other hand gestures. If you are local, please make every effort to join us in person to receive the most authentic transmission of our tradition. Plus, we can’t serve you tea by Zoom.
We meet every Tuesday from 6 pm to 8 pm by Zoom.
Every third Tuesday is a hybrid practice. In addition to our Zoom meeting we also meet in person at Thanington Resource Centre, also running from 6 pm to 8 pm.
If joining in person, please remove your shoes and enter quietly. If by Zoom, please mute yourself upon entering.
In either event, we will begin with silent meditation. We suggest you arrive about five minutes before the hour to get comfortable, as sitting starts promptly at 6:00 pm. The meditation opens with three bells, and ends with a single bell, indicating that dharma study will soon begin.
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 support pillows. If you prefer sitting on the floor, you’re welcome to bring your own meditation pillow (zafu) or kneeling bench. 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]