ZENDO CLOSED FOR IN PERSON through Friday, November 17
Due to the fact that a couple of members tested positive for Covid after attending different BZC events, we are moving to online only zazen for the rest of this week – at 7:30 am and 5:40 pm only. We may also reconsider other policies, including masking. Watch this space for late-breaking news!
We are now open for in-person programs to a limited number of attendees. If you are interested in attending, please send your vax and booster information to the Office Manager – bzcofficemanager@gmail.com – AT LEAST ONE WEEK BEFORE YOU ATTEND (if sooner than that, also bring your vax card and ID with you).
Masking is optional at this point.
IF YOU TEST POSITIVE FOR COVID within two days of being here, please notify the coordinator, Carol Paul, at caroljpaul@yahoo.com.
Online programs are either hybrid, in person only, or online only; see details below:
In Person or Hybrid Programs
Monday – Friday
- 6:00 – 7:30 am: zazen (bell will sound at 6:40), service, temple cleaning (hybrid)
- noon – 12:30 pm: informal zazen (in person only)
- 5:40 – 6:30 pm: zazen and service (separately in person and online)
Saturday (hybrid)
- Temple cleaning: 7:35 – 8:10 (in person)
- Zazen: 8:30 – 9:10
- Service: 9:10 – 9:30
- Kinhin: 9:30 – 9:40
- Zazen: 9:40 – 10:05
- Kinhin/break 10:05 – 10:15
- Lecture: 10:15 – 11:15
- See our Calendar for speaker schedule
Zazen Instruction and Beginner’s Orientation
8:40 – 9:20 am (please bring vax/booster card and K95 mask)
Wednesday Night Drop-In Study
7:00: Zazen
7:30 – 8:30: Reading and discussion
In person!
Online Only Programs
In the Online Zendo
Meeting ID: 897 7160 7938
Passcode: 602431
Daily Zazen
- Monday – Friday
- 7:30–8:10 am – see Calendar for special Monday morning schedule
- 5:40–6:20 pm (separately in person and online)
- Chanting for All Who Are Suffering
Tuesdays, 8:15‒8:45 am (online only)
Saturday Zazen Instruction and Beginner Orientation
Online: 8:40 to 9:20 (in special online meeting room)
Meeting ID: 976 5878 8698
Passcode: zazen
Online Zendo Forms and Etiquette
Close
General Guidelines for Online Practice
- Please join sittings a few minutes before the scheduled time, so as to be seated and settled in place before the period of zazen begins.
- It’s less visually distracting to others if you join the zoom session without video, get settled, and then start your video.
- The Doan will ring three bells to begin zazen.
- The Doan will ring one bell to signal the end of zazen.
Traditionally, to help facilitate a calm and settled space so that practitioners can attend to the moment-to-moment unfolding of experience in meditation, there are zendo practices, or forms, agreed upon and practiced with harmony in mind:
Minimize visual distractions
- If using a desktop computer, create a practice space by clearing or covering work papers. Please be sure to not have pictures or light sources directly in front of the camera.
- A recommended way to sit is in profile, facing away from the computer screen. This allows participants not to be distracted by the movement of other sangha members, mirroring our formal practice of facing the wall during zazen. Some choose to sit off-camera; that’s also fine.
Before zazen let the body and mind know:
- Bow towards and away from cushion/chair. This is traditionally done with palms together.
- Bow out, while seated, at the closing bell. Getting up from sitting, bow to and away from your cushion or seat. End the session.
Dokusan and Practice Discussion
To arrange dokusan with Abbot Hozan Senauke, use his online calendar: https://calendly.com/asenauke/dokusan or contact Hannah Meara at hmeara@gmail.com.
One-on-one meetings with BZC Practice Leaders are available on phone, skype, or zoom during sheltering in place. Please see the Practice Leader page for contact information.
Some thoughts about the function of Practice Discussion/Dokusan from Ryushin Andrea Thach