Zen Forms
I’m going to try to lay out step by step how to get through your first session in the zendo (mediation hall) without making any major mistakes. Hopefully this will give you confidence to meditate in person at your local temple. But remember that as long as you are trying your best and paying attention to others you will be fine even if you forget most of the forms!
The list below is based on the San Francisco Zen Center forms, but is probably similar to other Soto Zen centers too:
When you get dressed to come to the zen center, wear dark, clean, loose fitting clothes that cover your arms and legs that you will be comfortable in, and don’t wear any strong scent. This is mostly just so as not to distract others with bright colors or smells.
Arrive at the zen center early, like 10 minutes early. In Zen they say “if you are early you are on time, and if you a on time you’re late”. Generally you should be sitting on your meditation cushion five minutes before the official start time of the meditation session.
When you enter the building make sure to take out all of your electronic devices - phone, watch etc. that could make noise or shine light and put them in the cubbies. I guess you could also put them in airplane mode and keep them in your pocket but I always worry that if I do this one time I will forget to change mode and then get a loud text during meditation.
Next, take off your shoes and put them neatly with the other shoes. Zen people have a real thing for shoes being lined up neatly so don’t just throw them down. Also, try not to take the best shoe spot (like the top rack nearest the door) unless you need to. We generally try to leave the best spots for others who may need them, like someone who is having physical difficulties.
Next, make a fist with your left hand, put it on your upper stomach and then put your right hand over your left hand. When we walk around in the zen center we walk like this as a way of keeping a measured pace and not swinging our arms around and bumping into others.
If there is someone sitting outside the zendo stop and bow to them as a sign of appreciation and respect. I will write more about bowing in a future lesson but here you can either do a more formal bow with palms together held in front of your nose, or just bow with your hands still on your tummy in the walking posture.
When you enter the zendo enter with your left foot first. Step inside the zendo and then bow to the room with palms together held in front of your nose.
The Ino (the monk who is Head of the Meditation Hall) should then come to you and guide you to a spot for meditation. If you would rather sit in a chair than on a cushion (zafu) you should tell the Ino this in a quiet voice so they can find the right spot for you. Sitting on a zafu, chair or a meditation bench are all fine and you should do whatever makes you most comfortable for meditation.
Once you arrive at your meditation spot, bow to your cushion (or chair or bench), turn around clockwise 180 degrees and bow to the room, then get yourself into a seating position that is comfortable for you. Your seated position should have you facing directly towards the wall.
Congratulations, you made it to seated meditation! We will pick up next lesson on the forms for seated meditation.
