Guidelines

Paying attention to a few details enables all to prepare themselves for right mind and action during meditation.

In the Zendo

Please Be Courteous to Others

  • If it is your first time in the Zendo, please arrive 30 minutes before zazen begins. This will give us time to make sure you are comfortable.
  • The zendo is an intentional space dedicated to the practice of awakening; please treat it as such.
  • No casual speech. Minimize functional speech.
  • Cell phones should be completely silent.
  • No eating, drinking, or chewing.
  • Please hold the hands in one of the classical mudras; watch senior students for the examples.
  • Please enter or leave the zendo only during kinhin, not during zazen.
  • If you arrive late, wait until the initial zazen bells complete, enter and bow the the Ino (the person to your left), and quietly take your seat.
  • If you must leave early during zazen, bow to the Ino (the person to the right of the entrance), and quietly leave.

CHANTING

During Wednesday evening and Saturday morning services, we chant. Our liturgy is available on our Teachings page.

Participation Online

  • The mental posture in the online zendo is the same as in the physical zendo.
  • Use a separate space, clean and not too hot or cold, with adequate lighting.
  • Consider adding incense, candles, and flowers
  • During invocations and chanting please mute your microphone.
  • During meditation, please un-mute the microphone.

Clothing

The zendo can be warm or chilly depending on the time of year. Dress in layers comfortable for meditation. Darker, muted colors are preferred. Avoiding distracting colors and patterns helps to focus.

Health Precaution

To protect the safety of others, we ask that:

  • You be up to date on flu and Covid vaccines.
  • If you are experiencing any symptoms of communicable illness, please stay home to protect others.

We do not require masks, however you are welcome to use one.

Your Support is Appreciated

White Forest Sangha is a 501C(3) nonprofit organization providing Zen Buddhist meditation instruction, liturgical practice, scriptural study, and sangha fellowship to all. We are a Zen Buddhist community, organizing our practice around the needs of a lay sangha.

We are committed to the exploration and development of authentic and legitimate Zen Buddhist practice outside of the traditional monastic model. Zen seeks to promote a peaceful community, country, and world through fostering a peaceful disposition in each individual. Tax ID 83-2602090

Make a Donation