Your First Morning

Trying something new can feel uncertain, so here is exactly what to expect. Read this once and you will arrive knowing what the morning holds.

What zazen is. Zazen means seated meditation. You sit upright and still, either on a cushion on the floor or on a chair, and you bring gentle attention to your breath and your posture. Thoughts will come and go, and that is fine. The practice is simply to keep returning, again and again, to this breath and this moment. You are learning to be present with your life as it is.

When to arrive. If it is your first time, come at 7:30 a.m. for a short orientation and meditation instruction before the morning begins. If you have sat with us before, arrive a few minutes ahead of the 8:00 start so you can settle without rushing.

What a morning looks like. We sit for two periods of zazen of about twenty-five minutes each, with a short period of walking meditation, called kinhin, between them. A brief reading closes the morning, and there is time for tea afterward. We begin and end on time, and the whole gathering runs about an hour and a half.

What to wear. Choose loose, comfortable clothing that lets you sit without strain, in muted colors if you have them. That is all the practice asks of your wardrobe.

What to bring. Bring nothing but yourself. We have cushions and chairs ready for you. If you own a meditation cushion you love, you are welcome to bring it.

If sitting on the floor is hard. Many people sit in chairs, and there is no hierarchy in how you sit. A steady, upright, comfortable posture is the only aim, and we will help you find one that works for your body.

A few gentle customs. We keep our voices low in the meditation space and silence our phones before we begin. When you enter, you will see others sitting still, and joining that quiet is itself part of the welcome. If anything is unclear, simply ask. Everyone here was new once.