A shared ritual form is part of our practice. If you are sitting with us for the first time, please try and come around 6.10 pm on any Thursday of the month, so that we can give you a brief orientation.

 

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.

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The Basics

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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.

• Silence is a key part of our practice. If you need to talk while others are sitting, please keep your voice low.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• If you need to enter or leave the dojo during group zazen, please do so during kinhin.

• Our weekly sits conclude with a short period of chanting.

• Our ritual also includes some bowing practice.

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If you have further questions, please don't hesitate to contact us.

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