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What is Zen?
Zen simply
means "meditation." It is the practice of inquiry, of looking
into the matter of our lives, of investigating the fundamental questions
that arise from our being alive and aware: Who or what are we? Keeping these
questions continually alive and open, without limiting them through fixed
answers, we awaken to things as they truly are, which is in constant change
and flux. In this openness, our clear original nature, which is concerned
with alleviating the suffering of all beings, arises.
What is life?
Why do we suffer?
What is our correct relationship with this world?
Zen simply means
"meditation." It is the practice of inquiry, of looking into the
matter of our lives, of investigating the fundamental questions that arise
from our being alive and aware: What
are we? What is life? What is enlightenment or
realization? What is our
relationship with this world? Keeping
these questions continually alive and open, without limiting them through
fixed answers, we awaken to things as they truly are. In this openness, our
clear original nature, which is concerned with alleviating the suffering of
all beings, arises.
Sitting meditation is the practice
of stillness, of looking directly into the nature of mind. We sit for
periods of about 25 minutes. There are many postures appropriate for
sitting practice, including using a chair. Chanting is a practice of
consciously making and perceiving sound as a group. When we chant, our own
voice merges with the voice of others. The chants that we do are from a
variety of Zen lineages and in several languages. Chant books are provided. Walking is a practice of movement which involves interacting in a
conscious and intentional way with the body-mind. We walk between sitting
periods. Beginners are
always welcome. Zen practice is really very simple. If you are visiting for
the first time, please come at 6:00 on Wednesday evenings and we will
provide some basic introduction so that you will feel right at home. Information for Newcomers
Formal Practice