Zendo etiquette
Zendo
Although much of the following may appear quite petty, the purpose of it all is to train ourselves to pay attention to everything we are doing during each moment in the Zendo.
Before entering Zendo
Please remove your shoes leave them neatly in line with the other shoes.
When entering the Zendo
Enter with your hands in the prayer position (Gassho)then bow to the altar then walk to your mat or seat likewise bow to the seat as a sign of your appreciation for your place to sit Zazen then turn clockwise and also bow to the Sangha members sitting in unity opposite you.
Posture
Zazen is practiced while seated on a zafu (cushion). The correct balance is achieved when sitting with both knees touching the floor either cross legged, in half lotus, seiza (Japanese sit) or full lotus. Optionally, if you would find that posture too difficult, you can use a chair to sit in zazen. Your feet rest on the floor in a parallel position.
Sit upright and stable. The hands rest slightly on your lap. The left hand is placed on top of the right hand. The palms face upwards and the thumbs touch slightly. The elbows point outward and the shoulders are relaxed.
The eyes are half open and your chin is slightly tucked in. Gaze to the floor about 2-3 feet in front of you (without focusing). Your posture is strong and meant to bring alertness to the meditation.
Kinhin
Kinhin is walking meditation between two periods of sitting. We walk with hands in shasshu. Make a fist with your left hand and clasp it with your right hand in front of the body (on the chest bone), the forearms are horizontal. Stand upright with an arm’s length distance to the person in front of you, look ahead of you. Walk upright, as one and turn corners at ninety degrees. Pay attention to the walking, like you are walking on ice .
Chants
Zen Chant Booklet 2025
Although much of the following may appear quite petty, the purpose of it all is to train ourselves to pay attention to everything we are doing during each moment in the Zendo.
Before entering Zendo
Please remove your shoes leave them neatly in line with the other shoes.
When entering the Zendo
Enter with your hands in the prayer position (Gassho)then bow to the altar then walk to your mat or seat likewise bow to the seat as a sign of your appreciation for your place to sit Zazen then turn clockwise and also bow to the Sangha members sitting in unity opposite you.
Posture
Zazen is practiced while seated on a zafu (cushion). The correct balance is achieved when sitting with both knees touching the floor either cross legged, in half lotus, seiza (Japanese sit) or full lotus. Optionally, if you would find that posture too difficult, you can use a chair to sit in zazen. Your feet rest on the floor in a parallel position.
Sit upright and stable. The hands rest slightly on your lap. The left hand is placed on top of the right hand. The palms face upwards and the thumbs touch slightly. The elbows point outward and the shoulders are relaxed.
The eyes are half open and your chin is slightly tucked in. Gaze to the floor about 2-3 feet in front of you (without focusing). Your posture is strong and meant to bring alertness to the meditation.
Kinhin
Kinhin is walking meditation between two periods of sitting. We walk with hands in shasshu. Make a fist with your left hand and clasp it with your right hand in front of the body (on the chest bone), the forearms are horizontal. Stand upright with an arm’s length distance to the person in front of you, look ahead of you. Walk upright, as one and turn corners at ninety degrees. Pay attention to the walking, like you are walking on ice .
Chants
Zen Chant Booklet 2025