Practice. Zen is not something to be believed, but something to be practiced. It is at heart a matter primarily of direct experience. Key to the facilitation of direct experience are meditation techniques known in Japanese as zazen ("sitting zen" or simply "sitting"). In fact the Japanese word "Zen" derives from the Sanskrit word for meditation.
Study. Although Zen has inherited many sutras from its Buddhist ancestory, the paradigmatic Zen "scriptures" to complement zazen are the koan records, typically classic stories of interactions between Zen teachers and practitioners that embody a radical challenge, namely, the challenge to face living reality. Zen is not interested in focusing on theological propositions or philosophical concepts.
Awareness. The ways in which we hold our hands, walk, enter and leave the zendo, prepare to eat, sit and chant, take specific forms in Soto Zen. some of these forms have long histories and traditions, but originally they were all arbitrarily chosen to help us pay attention to what's happening in the present moment. The forms aid us in bringing the stability and mindfulness of our sitting meditation to everyday acticity. This in turn can help ground and deepen our zazen.
The important thing in observing these forms is our effort to be aware of our body and mind right here, right now. It's not so important that a mistake is made or that something is forgotten. In fact, it's often in our mistakes and forgetfulness that we learn something about ourselves.
The best way to learn the forms is to observe others doing them and to practice doing them with everyone. Our mind and body learn many things this way. We learn the forms from each other and teach them to each other continuously through our practice together.
Getting Started. We recommend that you first come to our Saturday morning program, to attend the newcomers' introduction, a thirty minute period of zazen and then a Dharma talk. If this is not convenient, drop by at some other time and let one of the residents or staff orient you.
Most Zen practitioners soon develop a daily sitting practice, joining some of the many zazen periods we offer each week. With time many begin to attend zazen retreats (sesshins) and take classes. At an early point is is recommended that you connect with a practice leader to develop some direction in your practice.
