Guidelines for entering the way of zen practice

Written by Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi, and adapted for this website

There are many ways to begin Zen practice, and Living Vow Zen offers a number of options for you to explore, at your own pace and in your own time.

In Buddhism we speak of three "treasures," which are traditionally called Buddha, Dharma and Sangha. These Sanskrit words are simply labels, a way of understanding different aspects of the path through particular frames or lenses.

Entering the Way

According to the story, after Gautama Siddhartha had his transformative insight into the nature of the world and himself he decided to find his former companions. On his way he encountered an old sage who saw there was something special going on and asked, "Who are you? Are you a god or a deva (an angel)?" To which Siddhartha replied, "No, I am awake."

The Budda

Buddha means "one who is awakened." In the Zen way we say that everyone (and everything) is already awake to what is true and real, perceptible beyond any filters or constructions of the discriminating mind. As human beings we have the unique capacity to realize our awakened nature. In zen, we begin to realize our Buddha nature by learning to practice zazen, a Japanese word that means "sitting meditation."

Learning to meditate

The first step is to receive meditation instructions and help with posture from a teacher or practice leader. You can ask for basic instructions from practice leaders before any weekly practice period, or by requesting private instructions from one of the guiding (transmitted) teachers or dharma teachers. It is also possible to learn to do zazen through reading, but we encourage personal instruction.

It is fine to do zazen on a chair. Some people use a seiza (a Japanese word that means "to sit down") meditation bench, which allows you to kneel in comfort. You may also use a zafu (a word that literally means "cattail seat" in Japanese) which is a round stuffed cushion and a zabuton ("seat-cloth-sphere" in Japanese) which is a flat padded meditation cushion.

Attending weekly practice periods

Once you have learned how to practice zazen, you may attend daily or weekly practice periods. Sitting with a group can be very nourishing to your personal Zen practice. You may come for all or part of a practice period. We encourage you to commit to regular attendance, but you are welcome to come whenever you can.

Home practice

It is also important to begin to practice zazen at home on a regular basis, preferably daily. This will help you to become comfortable with your own body and mind, and will begin to establish the ground for the realization of your Buddha nature. At the beginning the length of time doesn't matter as much as regularity: we recommend sitting for five or ten minutes two or three days a week, and working your way up to twenty-five minutes or more, every day.

The time of day is not important, but it's a good idea to find a regular time in your schedule for zazen. You may also want to create a special place in your home that is devoted to meditation. You may even want to set up a home altar, with a Buddha figure or picture, flowers or a plant, fresh fruit, a bowl of water, a candle and a pot for incense.

Sesshin and zazenkai

Longer practice periods are called sesshin, a Japanese word that literally means "to touch the heart-mind." Coming to a daylong practice period (aka, zazenkai) or to sesshin is a way to deepen your practice of zazen. Longer practice periods and sesshins are announced at weekly sangha practice. You can attend any Living Vow Zen practice period or sesshin for any amount of time.

The Dharma

The word Dharma literally means "something that can be touched or held in the hand." Generally, we understand Dharma to mean the teachings of the Buddha (sometimes called Buddhadharma) or the way things are, the law of the universe, or reality. In Living Vow Zen we study the Dharma in many ways: through reading books about Zen and Buddhism (see the reading list posted on this website), studying and practicing the liturgy, receiving instruction in private meetings with a teacher, listening to talks by teachers (teisho, a Japanese word that means "demonstration of the shout") and practice leaders, or by coming to study groups on various topics.

Chanting

At most of our practice periods, we have a period of chanting, in which we recite parts of the liturgy book from Living Vow Zen. Our liturgy is a combination of many translations and texts from different schools of Zen and Buddhism. When we chant, even though we may not understand the words, we allow the teachings of our ancestors to enter our understanding through our mouth, ears and heart. Gradually, we find that the words attain a meaning that goes beyond intellectual understanding.

Dokusan (meetings with teacher)

Brief individual meetings with a senior dharma teacher or a guiding (transmitted) teacher (dokusan) are offered regularly at some weekly practice periods and at all daylong and multi-day practice periods. (Dokusan is a Japanese word that literally means "going alone to the teacher.") Once your practice is established you can also make an appointment with a teacher outside of the regular practice periods, in person, by telephone or by videoconference. In individual meetings and dokusan, you can ask any questions or discuss matters related to your practice of zazen.

Shoken (guiding teacher for practice)

We encourage sangha participants to do interviews (dokusan) with all of the guiding (transmitted) teachers and senior dharma teachers. At some point, however, it is wise to enter into a primary relationship with one transmitted teacher. This primary teacher-student relationship is called shoken, which in Japanese literally means, "seeing one another." The shoken relationship in our tradition is not meant to be exclusive. We encourage shoken students to continue to study with all our teachers as well as to visit with teachers in other sanghas. Shoken does mean that one has committed to checking in with and seeking guidance from a specific person.

Dharma leadership

In Living Vow Zen, there are opportunities to take on leadership in teaching and guiding others. You may be asked to take on responsibility for a particular practice group as a practice leader. As your practice matures, the transmitted teachers may ask you to take on the role of dharma teacher or senior dharma teacher. Dharma teachers introduce forms and practices in classes and lectures. They may also informally speak with other members of the community about details of practice and give Dharma talks. (A dharma teacher may not give formal practice interviews (dokusan) or establish personal student-teacher relationships (shoken).) In addition to the responsibilities of a dharma teacher a senior dharma teacher may be authorized to give practice interviews.

The Sangha

Living Vow Zen is a community of people committed to waking up to their lives through Zen practice. Sangha is a word that means "community of practitioners" in Sanskrit. Besides attendance at weekly and all-day practice periods and sesshins, you can become involved in a sangha in a number of ways.

Dana (donations)

Living Vow Zen is sustained financially by donations. All contributions go to a central account, and return to individual practice groups and the Temple as rent and money for supplies and projects, and to the transmitted teachers as a small stipend. Dana is a Sanskrit word that means "generosity" and is meant to be an expression of gratitude for the teachings and the community.

Membership

Instructions for becoming a member of Living Vow Zen are on this website. If you are moved to join, you will be able to help with making decisions about the direction of the organization.

Helping with weekly practice periods

The practice leaders and teachers can always use your help. You can volunteer to help with keeping time, chanting, setting up breakout rooms during weekly Monday evening practice on Zoom. You may want to learn to play one or more of the bells and instruments that are used during the sutra service. These are best learned during in-person practice periods and sesshins. If you are interested in helping in these ways, please speak to a practice leader or teacher.

Ethics and the precepts

Another way to engage in the community is to actualize your zazen practice through mindful speech and ethical behavior. The traditional path of morality and ethics in Zen is outlined in the Sixteen Bodhisattva Precepts, which you can study by yourself, with a teacher, and/or in a study group. The precepts were originally designed as guidelines for living a life that supports and deepens practice in everyday life. They can also function as an endless source of contemplation and help us to continually awaken to the universal nature of reality that we call Buddha Nature.

Each year, there are two formal ceremonies in which Living Vow Zen students share their commitment to the precepts in community, one in the winter and one in the summer. "Taking the precepts" (jukai) with a teacher who has received Dharma transmission from his or her teacher is a way to publicly acknowledge commitment to this way that is beyond words and forms. We vow together to embrace the actual circumstances of our lives, and to enter fully into whatever we encounter.

For more on taking the precepts check out instructions for taking the precepts here

You may feel that this is a natural and important step on your spiritual journey. Or you may feel that taking the precepts is entirely unnecessary and perhaps even a distraction from your true path. You may study the precepts in any way that is meaningful to you, and you will be supported in whatever path you choose.