Austin Zen Center opens many gates to living a Zen Buddhist life. Practice at AZC includes:
- Zazen (seated meditation). The heart of our practice.
- Zendo forms and ritual. Mindful, selfless, in harmony.
- Dharma talks. The Tathagata's teachings.
- Practice discussion or dokusan. Mind-to-mind.
- Ceremonies. Zen's version of fun.
- Classes. Roots and vines.
- Lay Ordination. Public vow.
- Sesshins (zazen retreats) and intensive practice periods. Gathering the mind.
- Residential training. Immersion in a life of practice.
- Work. Mindful engagement.
- Study and research. Words and letters.
- Formal zendo roles. Bells and incense.
- Priest training. The most formal path.
We follow the path of Soto Zen. Zazen, zendo forms and practice discussion or dokusan are supported in our daily practice schedule. The Saturday morning program is ideal for beginners to start. Dharma talks generally occur on Saturday mornings or as special events found in our calendar. Ceremonies (including ordinations), sesshins and periods when classes are offered are listed also in the calendar. Classes are described on the classes page. Lay or priest ordination and priest training are offered by agreement with the head teacher. Opportunities for study and research are offered in our library. Training for zendo roles can be arranged through the ino. Work periods are offered during sesshins and during special work periods listed in the calendar. There are also ample opportunities to contribute to the Zen Center as a volunteer or by assuming membership in the Zen Center. There are many social events at Zen Center, sometimes spontaneously, like sharing in cooking and eating breakfast after morning zazen.
These programs and the space to house them are supported by a skeletal staff but significantly on the efforts of generous volunteers from our sangha to teach, cook, help develop and maintain the grounds and buildings and work in the office and library. Zen Center is committed to bringing practice into the world where its benefits manifest. Our outreach programs support smaller sitting groups and bring meditation instruction to a number of venues, support various community projects and encourage interreligious dialog and understanding.
The Austin Zen Center occupies three buildings around the corner of Washington Square and Thirty-First St. in Austin, which house our practice space, living and crash space for permanent residents and retreat participants respectively, office space, classrooms and a library. Our main building, which contains our zendo (meditation hall), is the former Friends Meeting House. The lower floor of this building is wheelchair accessible with a wheelchair-accessible bathroom in the rear, residential building. The annex across the street houses our library and classrooms. Sleeping space for a small residential community, substantially intersecting our staff and priests, is distributed over the three buildings. The passageways of our main building function as a revolving art gallery.
