Dedicate a place in your home for practice

Doing this affirms your commitment to practice in both a subtle and tangible form. A quiet corner set up with our cushion, bench or chair is a way to honor our spiritual practice with the intention that it deserves while also making it easier and more likely that we will to sit.

Some also like to setup a small altar of their own with or without incense, flowers, photos of people or objects who are inspiring for you. Whatever supports you in your practice.

Be early.

To cultivate the harmony of practicing together, please join on time, even when joining online. This can be a great edge of practice for many of us.

With the ease of access that technology provides, it can be easy to fall into a habit of joining right at the top of the hour or even slightly after.

Please, instead, practice connecting to the Zoom and being in your seat 5 minutes before periods of zazen and for programs or Dharma talks. This way, you can be settled before the bell rings or the program begins, we will begin with everyone together without disruptions, and we can better manage dokusan or other logistics.

The Jikido (time keeper) usually opens the zoom at least 5 minutes before the first period and admits people into the online zendo. If it is not open yet or you have been let in yet, you can wait quietly until you are admitted.

Bow to your seat and to the sangha

Even at home, it can be a good practice to bow in before you practice and bow out when your are done. Bow in by bowing towards your cushion/chair and then turn and bow towards the room/sangha. This is traditionally done with palms together. Bow out to the sangha while seated or standing when we are finished practicing together before leaving the online zendo.

Minimize visual distractions for yourself and others

Please feel free to face to the side or the wall or turn your screen away from you during zazen. Many members position the camera to include the view of an altar or incense. We do encourage keeping the camera on if you feel comfortable so we can feel connection and attunement with each other in our different meditation spaces.

If you need to get up or move around, please do a small gassho (bow with hands in prayer) prior to moving and then turn your video off while moving so as not to disturb the visual field of others.

If using a desktop computer, you might change the area into a practice space by clearing or covering work papers, if possible. Please be sure to not have strong light sources directly in front of the camera.

Minimize audible distractions for yourself and others: Mute and Unmute.

Make sure your microphone is muted upon entering the online zendo and take care to keep it muted during zazen and chanting. Only unmute during dokusan or when it is your time to share in a group discussion. Care well for silence in the online zendo

When chanting, there is a delay in the streaming so our voices are out of sync. Only the Ino (Chant Leader) or participants in the physical zendo during retreat will be heard online when chanting.

Zazen (Seated Meditation) and Kinhin (Walking Meditation) Cues

The Jikido (timekeeper) will ring three bells to begin the period zazen (seated meditation).

They will ring two bells to signal the end of the period of zazen.

When sitting more than one period, there is a 10 minute break in between. This time can be used for kinhin (walking meditation) or as a break to stretch or use the bathroom if needed. If you are taking a break, please turn your video off so as not to disturb others who may continue sitting through the break. You may keep your video on if you are doing walking meditation.

The jikido will strike wooden clappers in a sequence at the start of the 10 minutes to signal the beginning of slow and fast kinhin. They will strike the clappers again approximately 2 minutes before the start of the next period, and one bell to signal take your seat.

Dokusan

At the beginning of a period of zazen that will include dokusan or daisan, you will be asked by the Jisha (teacher’s attendant) to open the chat box and write your name in the chat to everyone so we can see the list of people who want dokusan. You will see an invitation to join the breakout/dokusan room when it is your time.

When you are done with your face-to-face meeting, click the button to leave the breakout room and you will return to the virtual zendo.

Chanting

Please join the sangha in chanting service led by the Ino (Chant Leader) and Doan (Instruments). You can follow along with the Liturgy. Again, please make sure mute your microphone.

Bowing

At the end of chant service, there is a sequence of three full prostrations followed by three bows. Many practitioners will do these fully from the standing position. Others may do them as standing bows only (no prostration) or seated, depending on the space available in their home and their physical abilities. If you are new, just follow along as best as you can.