SIT WITH US
THURSDAYS AT ST PAUL'S
The ZGWA holds sitting meditation every Thursday evening from 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm in the hall behind St Paul’s Anglican Church at 162 Hampton Road, Beaconsfield, W.A. All are welcome. If you are coming for the first time, come on the first Thursday of the month, and please arrive at 6:10 pm. This will enable us to give you an orientation. Please contact us if you plan to come for the first time.
On the first Thursday of the month there is a Dharma talk by the teacher.
Please refer to the front page for the current schedule.
Updates regarding dokusan (face to face interviews with the teacher) at St Paul's will be provided as they become available.
COVID safety guidelines will be in place. More details will be forthcoming.
A shared ritual form is part of our practice. If you are sitting with us for the first time, please arrive at 6 pm on the first Thursday of the month, so you can receive an orientation. If this time does not suit you, please contact us.
Before sitting with the group, you may wish to try sitting at home for short periods. Instructions on Zen meditation can be found in our Orientation Notes.
The Basics
Here are some basics to get you started:
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When we sit together, we wear loose fitting plain, dark colours to minimise distraction.
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Silence is a key part of our practice. If you need to talk while others are sitting, please keep your voice low.
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You don’t have to sit on a meditation cushion – stools and chairs are also available – however we commonly sit with our hands in the zazen mudra: it is held with the back of the right hand on the lap, the back of the left hand on the right palm, and both thumbs lightly touching to form a circle.
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Our sitting periods are timed by a time keeper using bells and wooden clappers. We all sit at the same time, and we all do kinhin (walking meditation) together. Our sitting cycle is 25 minutes sitting, 5 minutes kinhin, 25 minutes sitting, 5 minutes kinhin, etc.
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If you want to sit through kinhin, that’s okay; however if you do so, please wait until the next kinhin period to stand, or to leave the dojo.
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If you need to enter or leave the dojo during group zazen, please do so during kinhin.
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Our weekly sits conclude with a short period of chanting.
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Our ritual also includes some bowing practice.
If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.
