Introduction
PICT0016

The meditation hall (zendo) is the focus of our community of practitioners (Sangha) and its function is to help us pay attention to the nature of our moment-to-moment experience. Sustained attention is difficult for all of us, but it can be supported by a practice of disciplined, silent sitting while carefully observing both protocol and etiquette.

The following are guides for practice. If you forget or make a mistake it need not lead to recrimination. Consider your practice to be an opportunity to learn more about yourself, others in the Sangha, and our world. It's not faultlessness that counts - it's effort and attitude. We simply do our best. Mindfulness of our practice generalizes to the world outside the zendo.


Preliminaries

Be on time, ideally arriving at least ten minutes before the scheduled starting time. Not hurrying helps create an atmosphere of calmness, allowing everyone to settle into zazen and promoting mindfulness. If you are late or choose not to sit all periods of zazen, please wait outside the zendo until the period of zazen has ended and the bell has rung.

  • Remove your shoes. Place them in the shoe rack immediately to your right of the zendo entrance. Socks are optional.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing so that you can sit comfortably. Tight clothing restricts and hinders proper breathing and sitting.
  • Clothing colors should be muted (without words, pictures, etc.), clean and of a dark color so as not to be distracting.
  • Avoid distracting jewelry and scents.
  • It is better not to wear a watch; leave it in your car or pocket. The monitor (Ino) will keep track of time.
  • Please turn off cell phones and pagers that might disrupt zazen.
  • Maintain silence from the time you enter the zendo until after the last sitting period is over. Please keep conversation to a minimum in the foyer or waiting area prior to zazen.
  • Please use the bathroom either before the first sitting or during the periods of walking meditation between sittings.

The Zendo
  • When entering the zendo, bow at the threshold facing the alter with palms together (gassho - palms together with the tips of the fingers in line with the tip of your nose - and then, holding that position, bend at the waist 45 degrees). We offer gratitude to the room for sheltering us while we practice Buddha's way and to the Buddha for showing us the path.
  • Find a vacant cushion (zafu) and mat (zabuton). Bow in gassho to your cushion. We offer gratitude for having a place to sit, for support of our practice.
  • Turn clockwise. Bow in gassho to the others in the zendo, even if it is empty. We offer gratitude to friends who support our practice.
  • Sit on your zafu and spin around clockwise so you are facing the wall in zazen posture until the bell sounds (roll down), signalling the start of our formal service.
  • Rise slowly from your zafu and stand in gassho facing the Sangha.
  • The attendant (Jikijitsu or Jikka) will hand you a sutra card, should you need it. Hold the card as best you can with your palms together.
  • Bow in gassho whenever you hear the bell(s) ring.
  • Chant in a comfortable low pitch, in harmony and unison with the rest of the Sangha and drum (mokugyo).
  • After chanting the Heart Sutra, the Devotional, and the Three Treasure Refuges, place the sutra card beneath your zabuton (mat).
  • Turn clockwise, and face your seat. Bow in gassho. Turn clockwise again and bow in gassho to the Sangha. Sit down on your zafu, spin around clockwise, facing the wall in zazen posture.
  • When everyone is settled, the Ino will ring the large bell it indicate the beginning of formal zazen. Bow in gratitude and begin zazen.
  • Try your best not to fidget or move during zazen. Also refrain from itching, coughing, blowing your nose, etc. Ordinarily we try to avoid many varieties of discomfort; in the zendo we practice sitting still in the midst of our experience, attending to the forms it takes as well as to our reactions and resistances to experiencing it.
Photo and description of gassho

Walking Meditation (Kinhin)
  • On Sundays a one and one half hour block of sitting will consist of three periods of zazen, with two periods of kinhin in between the first and second, and second and third periods.
  • At the end of the first sitting period the Ino will ring the large bell twice, indicating kinhin will follow. Bow in gassho in gratitude.
  • As you are able, rise SLOWLY from your zafu. Face the Sangha in gassho and wait for the others to stand.
  • At the sound of the wooden clappers, turn LEFT and place your hands in shashu (wrap the fingers of your passive hand around your the thumb of that hand, placing your closed fist just below your sternum, then wrapping the fingers of your dominant hand over the fingers of the other with your dominant thumb on top, keeping both elbows high).
  • At the sound of the clappers striking a second time, and starting with your left leg, begin kinhin.
  • If necessary, you may leave the line at this point to use the bathroom. When you return to the zendo, stand at the doorway with your hands in shashu while the kinhin line passes until you can re-enter the line either at a space or at your original position.
  • During kinhin we practice maintaining our attention in the midst of motion, just as we do in stillness during zazen. At the beginning of the walking period, take one small step with each inhalation and another with each exhalation.
  • When the bell sounds, ten minutes later, stop, bow in gassho and then quietly and at a normal pace proceed to your zafu, standing and facing it.
  • On the second ring, bow in gassho to your cushion and then, turning to your right, face the sangha.
  • On the third ring, bow in gassho to the sangha. Squat to sit on your zafu, spin around clockwise and prepare for the next session of zazen.
  • When everyone is settled, the Ino will ring the large bell, indicating the beginning of the next period of zazen. Bow and resume zazen.
Photo and description of shashu
Photos and description of kinhin

End
  • The large bell rings once to signal the end of the last round of formal zazen. Seated, bow in gassho.
  • As you are able, rise SLOWLY from your zafu. Stand, facing the Sangha in gassho, waiting for the others.
  • Retrieve your sutra card, it you need it.
  • Bow in gassho at each ring of the bell.
  • Chant in unison and harmony with the Sangha.
  • The Ino will rise and bow to the Sangha. Please bow in gassho with the Ino.
  • At this point announcements may be made and/or a dharma talk may follow.
  • At the very end of the service, please brush the lint and dust from your zafu and zabuton. Fluff the zafu by placing it on edge and pushing downward with your hands, then rotating the zafu and repeating.
  • When exiting the zendo, turn clockwise once over the threshold, face the alter, and bow in gassho in gratitude.

General Considerations
  • Do not enter the zendo after zazen has begun. Enter only during kinhin or immediately after kinhin. You may enter immediately after the Three Treasure Refuges have been completed, when people are seating themselves for zazen.
  • Do not leave during zazen, unless absolutely necessary. If you must leave, do so as quietly as possible. Please reenter only when kinhin begins.
  • You may leave and return during kinhin as necessary, such as for a bathroom break. Please do this mindfully and without hurry.
  • Bells, clappers and drums and used in place of verbal instructions. Our practice values silence.
  • We aspire to sit in stillness without restlessness. If you must move or readjust a little, do so as quietly as possible.
  • If you are allergic to incense, please let the Ino know. It will be extinguished immediately.
  • Please leave valuables in your locked car. The rest of the building is unmonitored during zazen.
  • If you wish to be on our mailing list, please let a practice leader know.
  • If you have questions, please ask them after the service, if possible.

The Awakening Stick (Kyosaku)

During formal zazen, usually at the beginning of a period, the Ino will often place the kyosaku against your back to help you feel a straight, vertical, erect posture. First the Ino will touch your left shoulder to let you know that he or she is behind you. Then the Ino will place the kyosaku against your back. Do your best to be flexible and conform to the position of the stick. Contact should be made at the base of the spine, the upper back and the back of the head. Once the stick is withdrawn, keeping the chin drawn in, bend your neck and head slightly foward. Try to hold this posture as long as you comfortably can.

NO ONE is struck with the kyosaku, unless the meditator specifically requests to be struck. (Meditators request this by placing their hands in gassho. Practitioners request to be struck to release tension in their shoulders and back, to ward off drowsiness, or to "blow out" obsessive thoughts.) Occasionally you may hear a loud "crack!" as a person is struck. Don't be alarmed! The kyosaku's bark is worse than its bite.

Photo and description of the kyosaku