Sitting at the Centre

Being able to sit regularly with others is one of the things that draws people to the Centre.

It can be nerve-wracking at first, getting used to Zen forms, which are designed to help our silent group sitting to flow. Don’t worry about getting everything right — you are always amongst friends who all went through being new to the zendo.

If you are new to Zen, coming to a workshop before you begin to sit with us is required. At the workshop you will have the opportunity to get a feel for the zendo and how we move around in it. After a few visits the zendo “etiquette” becomes second nature.

Sitting (zazen) and walking (kinhin)

• There will be three strikes of the large temple bell five minutes before the sitting starts.

• The sitting will begin with strikes on the wooden block (han) followed by clappers and three strikes of the small bell (inkin). By the third bell, be seated in a stable posture you can comfortably hold without moving for the rest of the round.

• If it is a morning sitting, people who have a rakusu (an abbreviated robe worn around the neck) will recite the rakusu verse (“Wondrous is the robe of liberation…”). If you do not have a rakusu just put your hands palm-to-palm during the recitation.

• The monitor will announce the schedule for the sitting (how many rounds of how many minutes, and whether there is kinhin, dokusan or a chanting service).

• Settle into stillness as much as possible during the round.

• The end of a round is signalled by a strike of the inkin bell. Bow seated, then rise and turn with your back to the wall and bow when the bell is struck again. For walking meditation (kinhin), turn to your left and follow the person in front of you, walking around the zendo clockwise at a normal walking pace and staying fairly close to the person you’re following.

• The kinhin line will leave the zendo through the main door and walk in a small loop outside the door before returning to the zendo. This is when you can leave the kinhin line to go to the bathroom or to get some water.

• If you leave the kinhin line, remember who you were behind. To return to the kinhin line, enter your place in it. (Sometimes this is not possible because several people leave the kinhin line at the same time. In that case just join the kinhin line in any place and after the bell to sit down is struck, walk to your place.)

• When the inkin bell is struck during kinhin, continue walking until you are in front of your seat and then stop and turn so you are again facing into the zendo. When everyone has stopped in front of their seat, the bell will sound again and people will sit down facing the wall for the next round.

• Midway through each round, a monitor will offer the encouragement stick (kyosaku). This is optional. If you would like the stick, put your hands palm-to-palm, then drop your hands to your lap when the stick lightly touches your shoulder. Bring them palm-to-palm again after you are struck.

• At the end of the sitting, there may be a chanting service or the four vows with prostrations. Someone will announce this. After the sitting is finished, wait until the teacher walks out and there is a deadbeat on the inkin. Wait for any announcements before leaving.