Zazen online – Monday mornings

We’re sitting together now, online, here

It is my practice to sit zazen every weekday morning at 6 Central Time, and to offer an online option Monday mornings. If you would like to join me on a Monday, please email by Sunday evening. I’ll reply to let you know I got your message, and I’ll connect the zoom link above. You can also just sit with me from home without electronics, and we are still practicing together. The Zoom password is a three-letter word beginning with a capital Z.

This is a simplified morning practice in the Soto Zen tradition, adapted for being online. It includes 50 minutes of sitting and a 10-minute chanting service. If you need to come or go, or move or cough, please just do so quietly; you are muted and others will not hear. (Make sure you are muted.)

If you wear Buddhist robes, please put them on before zazen.

After service we usually gather and say hello briefly; this can also be a time for announcements or questions.

You can ask to be added to the email group, which will include any planned schedule changes, and information about the Wednesday introductory study group and the Sunday discussion group.

Orientation to the chant cards below:

There are two support roles used in this service, though they are usually combined:

Doshi does ceremonial bows at the altar before we begin, and walks around the zendo to begin the sitting period. When she comes to you, she will bow to the screen and you may bow in return. (Before and after service, we all bow together with the doshi three times.)

Doan rings bells and leads chants.

Instructions in italics describe physical actions of community. Words in bold are chanted by all, other words are chanted by doan. Community has slightly different actions than either doshi or doan, so please use the written directions.

“Gassho” means placing your hands together, in front of your heart. Sometimes it’s combined with a bow.

“Prostration” is a full bow to the floor; it’s fine to substitute a standing bow (gassho and just lean forward a bit) instead. Or stand respectfully. [Here is a description of how to do prostrations.]

“Shasshu” is a posture with hands folded together at the solar plexus.

The community chants the words in bold face. Just do your best. You can print the cards, or just listen. While chanting, please sit upright and hold the card up so you can breathe and chant easily. Like other sacred objects, the cards are never placed directly on the floor.

The circles and dots represent bells. Sometimes bells will be missing – things will not be exactly the same from one day to the next, because we have different volunteers and different capacities.

In the last dedication, blank lines offer an opportunity for you to speak the name of someone you wish to include. Online we won’t hear each other, it’s okay.

The link below takes you to the service. You can print the cards (3 pages) or just read them here.

MWZC Morning service online

Please feel free to join us, and to ask for help as you make your way in practice.