Meet and talk with the Zendo leader, if you are a first-time guest at Kanzeon Zendo. The name of the Zendo leader will be posted on the notice board. They will help you find a seat in the Zendo, familiarize you with the way of practicing Zen at Kanzeon Zendo, and help you settle in.
Be on time: The Zendo door will be closed on time. In case you are late, please wait for the walking meditation to join the group inside.
Open and close the zendo door quietly in case you need to leave the Zendo during a sitting. In his book Zen Keys, Thich Nhat Hanh explains the purpose of this training: “The master can see whether the student is “awake” or not. For example, if a student closes the door loudly or carelessly, he is demonstrating a lack of mindfulness. Closing the door gently is not in itself a virtuous act, but being aware that one is closing the door is an expression of true practice. In this case, the master is simply reminding the student to close the door gently, to be mindful. The master does this not only to respect the silence of the monastery, but also to point out to the student that he was not practicing mindfulness, that his actions were not majestic or subtle.”
Practice Samu: Zen practice attaches great importance to community work. It is done in a spirit of devotion and generosity. Samu, or work practice, is a dynamic expression of Zen practice. It gives us the opportunity to test and deepen what you have learned in the Zendo in the midst of daily activity. Zen monks (and students) spend part of their day in service to others, whether other monks in the monastery or people in the outside world. This teaches them humility and ensures that their lives benefit others.
Dress appropriately: Though Kanzeon Zendo is a Zen Meditation Center and not a monastery, we request our Sangha members and guests to dress modestly and appropriately. Please cover your knees and shoulders.
Respect the personal space of others at the Zendo.
Abstain from taking drugs and intoxicants. Inquire with the Zendo manager about the location of the smoking zone.
Be aware of your breath, thoughts, feelings, motives and deeds. A pillar of Zen practice is to be fully aware and awake.
Be committed to yourself, your practice, the Sangha and the master. As William Hutchison Murray said “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back, always ineffectiveness. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too.
Be compassionate to yourself and to all living beings around you. Joseph Campbell wrote: “The fundamental human experience is that of compassion.” We charge the bare minimum to our guests to keep our Zen practice affordable to all seekers. We also operate the Little Flower Trust. Your generosity and compassion is greatly appreciated.
Practice noble silence during Sesshins. In addition to not speaking, this includes not making eye contact with other participants.
Please note that Ama Samy founded Kanzeon Zendo for serious practitioners of Zen. To delve deeper into the practice, especially the koan practice, you would need to become a disciple of Ama Samy and join the sangha.
