What is Zen?

Elements of Zen Buddhist Practice

• Zazen - Plain or bare meditation
• Buddha Practice - Establishing & maintaining a daily meditation practice
• Sangha - Practicing & sharing in a community
• Dharma - Ongoing exploration, learning, and study
• Sesshin - Extended or deepening practice through retreats
• Dokusan - Working with a teacher or guide on deep questions of practice
• Learning how to take the wisdom from the cushion into our lives and into the world (Sangha & BuddhaDharma)

Why We Meditate

• To understand the interconnectedness, interpenetration (singularity) of all existence & things
• To see directly into the mind and know the exact nature of reality
• To walk fully and completely with all beings & things, the great earth, and the vast universe, hiding nothing and hiding from nothing
• To learn, be, and grow benevolence, compassion, equanimity, and sympathetic joy in all things

Levels of Practice

Three "roles" or levels of practice we can choose for ourselves:

1. Lay-practice - to explore, study, learn, and practice the way or path of meditation that the Buddha taught
2. Monks-practice (Jukai) - to explore, study, learn, and practice being the way or path in the world.
3. Sensei-practice (also called priest, teacher, or guide) - to explore, study, learn, and practice being the way or path for others in the world