Guidelines for Zendo

Please wear clothing that is comfortable and not distracting in color or style.

Do not socialize or make casual conversation in the zendo.

Make a standing bow as you enter and exit the zendo.

When crossing in front of the bowing mat, make a bow towards the altar. Do not walk between the bowing mat and the altar, except during kinhin.

When taking your seat in the zendo, bow to your cushion, then turn and bow to the sangha.

If you need to change your position during zazen, quietly assume another position. Do not squirm, scratch or fidget during zazen.

To foster mindfulness, we recomend that you walk in the zendo in shashu with your hands folded at your waist and your gaze lowered to 45-degree angle with the floor.

Leave your place neat and your cushion fluffed up and centered on the zabuton (flat sitting mat) before leaving the zendo. If you use more than one zafu, return extra zafus to the shelves, leaving only one zafu on the sitting mat.

If you arrive late for zazen, sit in the entry way on a cushion or chair provided there, and enter the zendo during the next kinhin period.

If you need to use the bathroom upstairs, exit the zendo at beginning of kinhin.