Zazenkai
On the third Saturday of each month, we hold a Zazenkai, or day of zazen. This gives us the opportunity to deepen and intensify our practice in a way not available to us in our usual daily meditation schedule. It is a day long retreat with extended zazen periods, kinhin, service, samu and a dharma discussion, reading or talk. For those who have not attended a sesshin, such a day is an excellent introduction to a retreat timetable.
We have scheduled four zazenkai over the next four months (dates below). Each will be led by two long term practioners. You are encouraged to participate in as many of these days as you are able, both to support your own practice and that of the sangha.
We would ask that you attend at least one Wednesday beginner's session and evening of zazen before you attend zazenkai, as there will not be an opportunity to explain our practice or outline the 'form' or ritual elements. To attend a zazenkai, please bring £15 (£10 concessions) to be paid upon arrival, which includes a light vegetarian lunch.
Zazenkai timetable
| Arrive by 8.45 | |
| 9.00-10.10 | Zazen (including kinhin), Verse of the Kesa |
| 10.10-10.30 | Tea & biscuits |
| 10.30-11.30 | Samu (see below for explanation) followed by short tea break |
| 11.45-12.55 | Zazen |
| 12.55-13.10 | Service |
| Lunch | |
| 14.30-15.00 | Zazen |
| 15.00-15.45 | Dharma talk or reading, discussion |
| 15.45-16.00 | Tea & biscuits |
| 16.00-17.10 | Zazen, followed by cleanup and possibly more tea! |
| Finish by 18.00 | |
Lunch
A light vegetarian lunch is provided. If you have any special dietary requirements, we will try to accommodate you, but where this is not possible we may have to ask you to bring something of your own to eat, and will of course reduce the cost of the zazenkai accordingly. Please speak to the organisers at least a week before the event (see schedule below).
Samu
During the samu period, you will be expected to take part in some form of work for the sangha, which might include cleaning, cooking, or working in the Centre's garden. If you find yourself unable to physically partake in the job you have been assigned, please speak to one of the organisers. The samu periods are an opportunity to extend our practice from the zafu, into mindful labour, and as such are an ingegral part of zen practice.
Zazenkai Dates — 2007-8
This list will be updated as dates are confirmed.
| 17 March 2008 Organised by: Alasdair Gordon-Finlayson (  ) & Jim Tupper () |
| 19 April Organised by: Ron Bell ( ) & John Kenworthy () |
| 15 May Organised by: Paul Evans ( ) & Darinder |
| 21 June Organised by: Paul Evans ( ) & Andy Scott () |
Occasionally zazenkai will clash with full sesshins – in this case, the zazenkai will be not be listed on this page (or cancellation will be announced on this site in good time).
