Practice and teaching night
Zazen, service, and dharma talk
25 min
Zazen
10 min
Kinhin · walking meditation
25 min
Zazen
Brief
Evening service
Remainder
Dharma talk, conversation, and tea
Official program ends around 8:30 pm
← Schedule and calendar
Weekly practice · Reno
Tuesday Zazenkai
Weekly meditation, service, and dharma practice
Zazenkai is the steady center of our shared practice. We meet every Tuesday evening for zazen, kinhin, and a brief service. On alternating weeks, we either continue with a dharma talk and tea or devote the evening to longer periods of silent practice.
People with a range of experience practice together. No particular flexibility, posture, or meditation equipment is required. Chairs, benches, zafus, and zabutons are available.
New to Zen practice?
Beginner’s Night is the best place to begin
Tuesday zazenkai assumes enough familiarity to move into silence at the first bell. We will always help someone who is new, but our monthly Beginner’s Night leaves more room for meditation instruction, zendo forms, questions, and getting to know the sangha.
If you already have a meditation practice, are visiting from another sangha, or cannot attend Beginner’s Night, contact us. We can help you decide whether a Tuesday evening is a good starting point.
Two alternating forms of practice
The two formats alternate from week to week. Check the calendar or announcements for the current sequence, especially around holidays and special events.
Extended practice night
Longer periods of silent practice
45 min
Zazen
15 min
Kinhin · walking meditation
30 min
Zazen
Brief
Evening service
Optional
Informal tea and time together afterward
Formal practice ends after service, generally around 8:15 pm
Service and chant book
Each Tuesday includes a brief Soto Zen service. Chanting is a shared embodied practice rather than a performance. You do not need to know the words, melodies, bows, or instruments before attending. Follow along as you are able, or simply listen.
Printed chant books are available in the zendo. The public PDF is also useful for becoming familiar with the service or practicing at home.
Before you arrive
Common questions
Is Tuesday night appropriate for a first visit?
You are welcome, but we generally recommend Beginner’s Night as the easiest first step. It includes more explanation, more time for questions, and a gentler introduction to posture, forms, and the rhythm of practice. Practitioners with prior meditation or Zen experience may be comfortable beginning on a Tuesday.
How do I get into the building?
The building entrance is secured, so we need to know you are coming before your first visit. Contact us ahead of time and we will send the current door code and directions to the lower-level practice room. Once zazen begins, we may not be able to answer a phone or come upstairs to admit an unannounced visitor.
What should I do if I am late?
Use the door code you received, enter quietly, and wait outside the practice room until a transition. The best time to join is during kinhin, between sitting periods, or when someone opens the door. Please do not enter the zendo in the middle of a sitting period. If you expect to be substantially late, let us know beforehand.
Do I need meditation equipment?
No. Zafus, zabutons, seiza benches, and chairs are available. Wear comfortable, modest clothing that allows you to sit and move easily. Dark or neutral colors are helpful but not required for a first visit.
Do I need to know the chants or forms?
No. Follow along as you are able, and feel free simply to listen. The chant book is available online, and someone can help you with bows, walking meditation, and service forms before practice begins.
Every Tuesday · first bell at 6:30 pm
Practice with us
For a first visit, contact us before Tuesday so we can send the current building code, answer questions, and have someone ready to welcome you. Arriving around 6:15 pm gives us time to help you settle in before silence begins.