Zazenkai, or “Day of Zen,” is a chance to deepen our practice. We have the opportunity to sit together for a longer period of time than on Wednesday evenings. We maintain contemplative silence during zazenkai until our Way of Council at the end.
We hold zazenkai once a month at our zendo, usually on the second or third Saturday of each month.
Visit our list of upcoming zazenkais for details and to register.
Registration
Prior registration is required. Visit our zazenkai listings for details and a registration link. A requested donation of $50 full price / $25 discounted helps us cover costs we incur for the day.
Program
Our program includes tea and light snacks, zazen periods with kinhin, teisho (Dharma talks by our Zen teachers), dokusan, and chant practice. Our typical schedule is listed below. Please bring a bag lunch, and wear comfortable clothes that are clean and non-distracting. A refrigerator and microwave are available.
Cushions (zafus), mats (zabutons), and a few seiza benches are available to borrow. We also have chairs. When you sign up online, please indicate what you would like for the first sit we can prepare the zendo. You can switch to other available seating during a break if you get uncomfortable.
Typical Zazenkai Schedule (subject to change)
- 8:15-8:45: Arrive, set up zendo, store food, and settle into zendo
- Be seated by 8:55
- 9:00-10:30: Zazen and kinhin (three sittings)
- Opening bells, incense offering, opening chants
- Silent practice
- 10:30-10:45: Tea/snack break
- Return to cushions by 10:40
- 10:45-12:15: Zazen and kinhin (three sittings)
- Silent practice, encouraging words, interviews, chant practice
- 12:15-12:45: Lunch break (in foyer or inside zendo)
- Meal Gatha
- Return to cushions by 12:40
- 12:45-2:15 Zazen and kinhin (three sittings)
- Silent practice, chant practice, and interviews
- 2:15-2:45 Closing Circle/Way of Council
- Quietly move mats into a circle
- Way of Council ends when all have spoken or by 2:45
- ~2:45: Incense offering, ending with Four Vows
- 2:45-3:00: Pack up zendo and depart
You do not have to attend the full zazenkai if your time is limited. Let us know when you plan to arrive or leave in the comments space when you register so we can place a cushion for you. If you arrive during a zazen period, wait outside the zendo and join us during kinhin (walking meditation). Please leave during kinhin or a break as well.